Emeline Starr Carter, Ridgefield native

Emeline Starr Carter, a member of an old and prominent Ridgefield family, died March 9, 2001, in Wilton at the age of 97. She was the widow of John Hampton Lynch Jr., who died in 1947, and of Kenneth C. Carter, who died in 1985.
Born in New York City on Feb. 8, 1904, she was a daughter of the late Emeline Danforth and Louis Morris Starr. Mrs. Carter spent summers at the Starr family home, Ontaroga Farm, in Farmingville and graduated from Saint Timothy’s School in 1922.
Mrs. Carter married John Lynch in 1927 and lived in New York City where she sang with the St. Cecelia Chorus and was a member of the Junior League.
In 1937 the Lynches moved into the house they built on West Mountain Road. She was active in the Thrift Shop, Red Cross and the Caudatowa and Ridgefield Garden Clubs. She sang in the choir of St. Stephen’s Church and loved to play the piano, garden and play golf at Silver Spring Country Club, of which her father had been a founder.
Mrs. Lynch married Mr. Carter around 1950 and moved to Valeview Road in Wilton, where she lived the rest of her life. They also spent time in Jupiter, Fla., where their boat, The Good Idea, was based.
Mrs. Carter is survived by three children, Emeline L. Wittman of Ridgefield, Lucy L. Park of Villanova, Pa., and John H. Lynch IV of Kentfield, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, Cynthia, Kevin, Meg and Andrew Wittman, Lucy P. Horn, Irene Park, Jennifer P. Dembinski, Caroline P. Veit, Lindsay L. Lytle, and John H. Lynch IV; and 11 great-grandchildren: Nicole Allen, Lily van Diepen, Olivia and Isabel Wittman, Stephanie and Alexander Horn, Leah, Katherine and Margaret Dembinski, Roger J. Veit and Daniel Lytle.
Her sisters were the late Mrs. Theodore C. Jessup and Mrs. W. DeFord Beal. A grandson, Andrew C. Lynch, also died before her.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 21, at noon at St. Stephen’s Church in Ridgefield.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Garden and Conservation Trust, Ballard Greenhouse, 21 Gilbert Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.