Lynn C. Steed, 85, of Austin, formerly of Beaumont, died Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at Buckner Villa, Austin.

He was born on June 2, 1927, in Lufkin, to Lillian Blanche Steed and William Grady Steed. Lynn grew up in Houston and graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1944.

In June of 1945, Lynn joined the Navy and was stationed on the USS Binion that was headed for Japan. However, they turned back for home when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Lynn was honorably discharged in July of 1946.

Lynn went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lineman on September 26, 1946. He started by climbing poles, working on the switchboard, and ultimately working into a management position with the phone company. On June 12, 1948, Lynn and Dorothy married in Houston. He worked for SWB in Houston for twenty years and, in 1966, was transferred to Beaumont. After forty years, with perfect attendance, Lynn retired from SWB, as district manager for the Beaumont office, on September 26, 1986. Lynn’s work ethic and managerial skills were well respected by the people he worked with and mentored through those forty years. After retirement, Lynn did consulting work for Raychem and Tyco until 2002.

He was involved and spent many hours volunteering in SWB Pioneers Club, Beaumont West End Rotary Club, Beaumont Optimist Club, Beaumont Young Men’s Business League, Board Member of Neches Federal Credit Union, and Beaumont Special Olympics. Lynn was also a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaumont.

Lynn was a devoted husband to Dorothy and his whole life was focused on family, friends, and work. He started a tradition with family and friends in 1959. That summer, he decided to take his family of five on a camping trip to the Frio River at Garner State Park. That started a fifty-three year tradition that continues today. Currently, Lynn’s family of twenty-five continues to visit the Frio River every summer along with a host of friends, some of which have been made over the years of camping at Garner State Park. These are the best memories that all of Lynn’s family and friends will carry with them forever. Lynn and Dorothy spent many fun times camping all over the United States and Canada. We are blessed for having known him and for having him as our husband, father, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend.

As it says in Ecclesiastes…there is a time to be born and a time to die. Lynn’s circle of life continues now as his great-grandson, Keller, was born on September 26, 2012, and Lynn went home to be with his Heavenly Father on October 3, 2012. Our family is truly blessed.

Lynn is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Dorothy Steed; daughters, Jan Kingsbury and her husband, Tim; Kip Hall and her husband, Craig; Kay Kimbell and her husband, Jim; Sammy Huffaker and her husband, Chuck; and Mandy Walsh and her husband, Dan; grandchildren, Martin K. Thomen IV and his wife, Ozde; Jake Thomen and his wife, Shae; Zach Bivins; Jessie Bivins; Cody Kimbell; Tyler Kimbell; Tanner Walsh; Addie Walsh; Grady Huffaker; and Trent Huffaker; great-grandchildren, Sloane Thomen and Keller Thomen; sister, Nancy Lau; brother, Dale Steed and his wife, Anne; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A gathering of Mr. Steed’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with his memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 6, 2012, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Cremation arrangements were held by Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701, or to a charity of one’s choice.