Lynn M. York

Lynn M. York, 85 of Palestine, IL, died at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2012 at the United Methodist Village, Lawrenceville, IL from complications due to Alzheimer€™s disease. He was born February 20, 1927 in Palestine, the son of Lawrence A. York & Lura Belle Scotton York.He was a veteran, serving his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1945 until 1947. Upon returning home, he attended Rose Polytechnic Institute (now Rose Hulman) and graduated as an electrical engineer. Lynn was a civilian subcontractor in the space industry and served as program director for several projects. He was heavily involved in the space program since its infancy; starting at the Edwards Air Force Base in the 1950s, Lynn was involved long enough to have had his payloads on space shuttles.He was also very active in the Presbyterian Church. An elder several times, Lynn was also moderator of the Central Florida Presbytery, and was a youth advisor. He was also very active in race relations in Brevard County, Florida during the civil rights movement in the late 1960s and served as chairman of The Community Action Agency for Brevard County. He was also an active conservationist. He was the first in his community to install solar panels for his home in the 1970€™s, and enjoyed the beauty of the environment during backpacking trips, namely on the Appalachian Trail.On July 14, 1951, Lynn married Mary Ellen McCoy, and she survives. Also surviving are his children and their spouses: Vicki & Charlie Alger (rural Robinson), Nancy York (Palestine), Marcia Mick (Melbourne, FL), Phillip York & Charlenea Zimmerman (Flat Rock), and Timothy York (Melbourne, FL); six grandchildren and their spouses: Dr. Susan & Ryan O€™Donnell (Wesley Chapel, FL), Diane & Bill Horn (Topeka, KS), Regina Smith (Melbourne Beach, FL), Roger Mick (Vero Beach, FL), Kyle & Laura York (Flat Rock) and Zebulon & Rachel York (Belleville, IL); six great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Phillip York.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27th at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine, with Pastor Paul Phillips officiating. Burial will be in the Palestine Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26th at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer€™s Association or to the Hutsonville High School Scholarship Fund, with envelopes available at the funeral home.