Claudia Miller Lynch, a longtime Cape Girardeau resident, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born Nov. 18, 1916, at Wardell, Mo., the daughter of Alfred O. and Mary (Miller) Anderson. She married Paul Lynch on May 17, 1936, in Cape Girardeau. She attended Chaffee High School and lived in Chaffee for 30 years and then in Cape Girardeau for 32 years. While in Chaffee, she and her husband owned and managed the Dinner Bell Restaurant for 14 years. After relocating to Cape, she was employed at Florsheim Shoe Co. for a short time.

She was very active in church work, including teaching Sunday School, singing in the church choir and being a soloist. Mrs. Lynch was a charter member of Lynnwood Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of Cape Girardeau; two sons, James Lynch of Jackson and Gary Lynch of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Ed Lynch of Jackson, Cindy Williams of Knoxville, Tenn., Julie Lynch of St. Louis and Stephanie Lynch of Santa Fe, N.M.; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Friday at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998, at Lynnwood Baptist Church, the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Internment will be at Union Park in Chaffee. Pallbearers will be Ed Lynch, Jim Williams, Rex Williams, David Lane, Kevin Williams, Jerry Sneed and Bill Williams.

Claudia gave strength, comfort and joy to all who knew her. Those who loved her most will feel the loss of her grace and will strive to continue her courageous spirit as her legacy.

We give thanks to God today for sending this angel in His stead. We know she will be watching over us.