Alumni Stories
The Chuck Lynch Story: Delinquent to Dedicated
Chuck grew up on the east side of Columbus. Like so many teenagers, he took it as a challenge when told not to do something.
"I seemed to have a great knack for getting into all sorts of trouble, he said with a smile.
In 1958 at the age of 15, Chuck came to The Village Network, then known as Boys' Village. He lived in Summit Cottage with wonderful house parents and worked in the mailroom. Whenever he got a cold, Jane would give him orange juice to drink and his colds would be short-lived.
Chuck's favorite memory is working on the farm and riding the horses. Jake, who ran the farm operations, reinforced Chuck's strong work ethic, which was instilled in him by his parents. Chuck carried the love of farm life into his adulthood where he settled down in the country surrounded by a few acres of land.
During his stay at The Village Network, Chuck was involved in sports. He was the pitcher in baseball, the defensive end in football and served as the center in basketball.
Faith is very important to Chuck. He believes everyone has a purpose in life and sometimes it takes years for us to realize it. He remains an active member on the Board of Trustees at his church. Chuck offers these words of wisdom:
- Always be honest, no matter the consequence and you will be forgiven.
- Learn to forgive yourself.
- Work and play hard.
- Always do your best and you will be rewarded in the long run.
- Go the extra mile at work to help someone out.
- Volunteer!
Chuck worked as a mechanic for 30 years and then started another career. He worked an additional 10 years repairing oxygen-producing machines before finally retiring. He still stays very busy volunteering. Chuck credits his parents and The Village Network for his "great desire to help others."
He has been a team leader for the American Red Cross for 23 years. He has also worked with Joni and Friends Wheels for the World, a wheelchair and other rehabilitation equipment outreach, for 12 years.
Chuck resides near Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife of 46 years, Ginny, and their adorable dog, Wilbur. They have four sons, one of which is deceased, five grandsons, one granddaughter and three great-grandchildren.
Then and Now at The Village Network
Things have changed since Chuck was a young man at Boys' Village. The Wooster site was the only location and was operated as a working farm. The boys lived with house parents, primarily husbands and wives, and participated in all aspects of farming. Some of the original farm has been sold and the remaining land is leased and farmed commercially.
The farmhouse and barn have been replaced with a campus-like setting dotted with cottages, a chapel, a service building, an administrative building and The Gault Youth and Family Enrichment Center.
The Gault Center opened January 17, 2006 and is the centerpiece of The Village Network-Boys' Village Campus in Wooster, Ohio. The facility houses the full-day, on-site school staffed by Wooster City Schools as well as counseling and family services. It also has a full-court gymnasium, cafeteria, library and staff training rooms.
When Chuck was at Boys' Village, the guys were involved in team sports and played against other local schools. In the early 90s, most extracurricular activities were confined to the campus. The youth now participate in intramural programs and sports. The Wooster campus has basketball courts, a baseball field, two lakes stocked by the local Bassmasters and The Village Network Mini Speedway-a permanent remote-control car racing track.
TVN-Boys' Village Campus is one of 11 locations serving all of Ohio and out-of-state boys and girls.
Help us fill in the blanks
If you would like to share your story and/or help us with names of alumni and former staff, contact Deb Jenkins at 330.202.3899 or djenkins@thevillagenetwork.com.
Chuck Lynch (pictured bottom, left) and some buddies make a human pyriamid.