Murray Joe Tynch, Jr.

 Fair Winds & Following Seas to Murray Joe Tynch Jr, 85, of Rocky Hock, who passed away on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 at ECU Medical Heart Center in Greenville, NC. 

 Born October 19,1939 at his parents’ home in Chowan County, Murray was the eldest child of 6 children born to Murray Joe Tynch Sr and Ada Harrison Tynch. 

 An avid baseball player, sharpshooter and pool shark growing up, Murray worked with his father and brothers in the family businesses, Valhalla Produce Company and Valhalla Corporation after graduating as a Chowan High School “Bulldog”. He loved all aspects of the business from peanuts and trucking to buying and selling watermelons across the country. Murray’s name was synonymous with Valhalla and he poured everything he had into making it a success. As the eldest, Murray took his responsibility to his brothers and sisters very seriously and in 2009, when the Tynch family sold Valhalla, Murray never skipped a beat. He embraced retirement wholeheartedly, continuing to stay close to all his siblings. His idea of a perfect day was fishing on the Outer Banks with his wife, Patsy and grilling dinner on their porch and if you added in a visit from his brothers or sisters, Murray would stay on that porch all day! 

 Murray was married for 62 spectacular years to Patsy Holliday Tynch. She was the love of his life and that never dimmed. They had one son, Murray Joe Tynch III. If you ever met Murray, he probably slipped it into conversion that his son, Joey, is a retired Navy Admiral. He was so proud of his son and he supported him throughout his career. Murray also has two granddaughters, Emma Caroline and Anna Joe Tynch. They were his passion and his joy. 

 Murray was a lifelong member of the Rocky Hock Baptist Church and he was on the board of the Directors for Southern Bank. He was very active and served a term as the President of the NC Watermelon Association. He was also a member of the Golden Peanut Board in Suffolk, Virginia.

 Murray is survived by his wife Patsy (Jean), his son Joey (Bud), his daughter-in-law Heather (Shorty), his granddaughter Emma (Carolina), and his granddaughter Anna (Joe-Joe). He is also survived by his brothers, Milton Tynch and Mike Tynch, and his sisters, Kathryn (Sis) Perry, Margaret (Mah-gret) Rollins, and Patricia (Trisha Ann) Young.

 Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, Feb 5th, at 11AM in Rocky Hock Baptist Church and will be conducted by Pastor Matt Dupuy. His family will receive visitors at their home in Rocky Hock.

 Contributions in his memory are appreciated and may be made to Rocky Hock Baptist Church, 113 Rocky Hock Church Road, or to the Edenton Chowan Food Pantry, PO Box 643, both in Edenton, NC 27932. 

 Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home and Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.