Anthony W. ‘Tony’ Lingenfelter, dedicated family man and passionate pickleball player
Anthony W. “Tony” Lingenfelter lived a full life. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, dedicated to his family and community. Pop was a great athlete, coach and fan, with a smile for everyone and a great spirit. He will be sorely missed.
Born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., April 14, 1937, Tony grew up in Bellefonte, Pa., raised by his strong mother, Margaret Ann Maney, along with his two wonderful brothers, Nick and Mike. Tony was a standout high school athlete, excelling in football, wrestling and baseball, and was later entered into his high school’s hall of fame. He served three years in the U.S. Navy, played college football, and graduated in 1963 from Bloomsburg College in Pennsylvania. He married the love of his life, Dottie Ann Updegraff, in 1962, and they were blessed with two children, Annie and Mike, in 1966 and 1968. Tony taught and coached wrestling at Penn Manor High School for three years, and then began his 33-year career with Turkey Hill Minit Markets.
When Tony started, Turkey Hill had just eight stores, and when he retired, they had 236 all across Pennsylvania. Tony built a reputation for his hard work, humor and honesty as he helped build the business. His loyalty, his willingness to pitch in and do whatever needed to be done, and his dedication and creativity, helped build a great team and a successful company.
In 1992, Tony and Dottie bought a unit in Port Lewes, and over the decades that followed, Lewes became a summer home for them, their children and grandchildren. Tony and Dottie moved to Lewes full-time in 2004, and loved the community. Tony started playing pickleball in Sun City, Ariz., in the winters, and soon was playing pickleball in Lewes and Sussex, winning a gold medal in the Delaware Senior Olympics and competing nationally. Tony loved so many of the features of Lewes, from biking on the trails and fishing with his grandsons, to working out at the Sussex County YMCA and playing pickleball on local courts. Pop was proud of his Irish Catholic roots, a parishioner for many years at Sacred Heart in Lancaster, Pa., and St. Jude’s in Lewes. Pop had an open, welcoming heart, judging no one, loyal and reliable, the best friend and partner you could ever hope for. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor, finding something to laugh about with everyone he met.
Pop was a lifelong and passionate Penn State fan, for many years attending every home game, and watching every game for decades. Pop also coached and cheered on his children and grandchildren for every game, meet and match they had over many years. He was a passionate LSU fan and Notre Dame fan as well, proud of his grandchildren for attending both of these great schools, as well as Penn and NYU. His granddaughter Maggie taught him all about the arts, and he became a fan of Clear Space Theatre and Possum Point Players as a result.
Tony passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family Wednesday, May 12, 2021, and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dottie; his daughter Annie and husband Chris Coons of Wilmington; son Michael and daughter-in-law Grace Ann Lingenfelter of Landisville, Pa., and their grandchildren Connor and Danny Lingenfelter and Michael, Jack and Margaret Coons.
Services will be private, and the family asks that you take a moment and do something kind or something to give back to your community. Pop was passionate about giving back and caring for others, and he always did so with a smile. In lieu of flowers, contributions could be made in his honor to the Greater Lewes Foundation, Cape Henlopen Pickleball Campaign Fund, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958, or to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Bldg #2, Phoenix, AZ 85014, which provided wonderful care in Tony’s last days.
