Lynwood : Funeral Held for Former Mayor John D. Byork

A funeral service was held Wednesday at the Lynwood United Methodist Church for former longtime Councilman John D. Byork who died Monday. Byork had suffered from emphysema for several years. He was 80.

Byork was a Lynwood planning commissioner for five years before being appointed to the City Council in 1965 to fill the unexpired term of a council member who died. He was then elected to five consecutive four-year terms, serving a total of 22 years. He served as mayor on four different occasions. He chose not to run in November, 1987.

Byork was born in Calcutta, India, to Swedish Methodist missionary parents. Byork graduated from Hollywood High School and attended Los Angeles City College before serving three years in the Navy.

For many years, Byork owned and operated the L.A. Pottery Manufacturing Co. in Lynwood. He also served as chairman of the Century Freeway Corridor Cities Caucus, a lobbying group for cities along the 17.3-mile transit now under construction.

Byork is survived by two daughters, Carol Rhodes of La Palma and Kristin Drabek of Cerritos, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.