Charles Lynn McBee

Charles “Lynn” McBee, age 73, passed away at home in Albuquerque, NM on August 6, 2026, after a lengthy illness. Lynn was born in Ottumwa, IA, on June 2, 1953, to Charles Lindberg McBee and Mary McBee. The family moved to Colorado when he was six. He had a younger sister, Cathy, who passed away at age seven. His brother, Michael McBee, was born in 1964.

Lynn graduated from Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, CO in 1972, varsity lettering in football and wrestling. He joined the Army in 1972 and spent seven years on active duty. During those years he married and had a son, Christopher. His first marriage ended in divorce. Christopher passed away at age 21. After leaving active duty, he remained in the Air National Guard. He married Jonie McBee in 1982, and they completed their college degrees at Texas Tech University - his in information technology management, and hers in nursing. They were commissioned together into the Navy in 1985. Their son, Travis, was born there in 1988. Lynn completed his master's degree in information technology management Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in 1993. He retired from the Navy in 1996. He continued to work in his field in a civilian capacity in a variety of locations, and he retired from the US Forest Service in 2019.

His son Travis and Keeley married in 2017, and their first child, Jace, was born in 2019. Their second child, Riley, was born in 2022. Lynn and Jonie divorced in 2020 but remained on good terms routinely spending time with the entire family during gatherings.

Lynn was a tenacious person and providing for his family was paramount. He was a talented handyman and could fix almost anything. He was a hunter in his younger years, and he loved reloading ammunition and going to the range. He was an expert marksman, earning this designation while in the Army. He was an outstanding cook and enjoyed preparing delicious meals for friends and family, and was an award winning bread baker. Other specialties included beef-and-noodles, risotto, fajitas, and peanut brittle using his mother’s special pot every Christmas. Lynn was an excellent dancer, and he met his partner, Jan, at the Albuquerque Dance Club in 2022. They enjoyed dancing and traveling together. Lynn was a Master Mason in the Freemasons and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albuquerque which is where he found his community later in life.

Lynn is survived by his son, Travis, daughter-in-law, Keeley, grandson, Jace, granddaughter, Riley, and brother, Mike. His parents, sister, and son, Christopher, predeceased him.