Frederick Charles

Lingenfelser

“Final Flight West”

Frederick Charles Lingenfelser, 82, a former resident of Newtown who was active in establishing the FISH organization, died peacefully at home in Port Orange, Fla., October 31.

 His loving wife Estelle “Essie”; son James John Lingenfelser of New Milford; adoring daughter Lynda Lee Lingenfelser; Essie’s daughter Randi and her husband, Jim Ferullo; three grandchildren to whom he will always be “Poppy”; and one great-granddaughter survive Mr Lingenfelser. He was predeceased by his son, Charles Frederick Lingenfelser.

In 1944, he earned the distinction of Eagle Scout. In 1947 and 1948 he worked for Capitol Airlines as a ground serviceman. Mr Lingenfelser earned his private pilot’s license in 1948 in a J-3 Cub with floats. In 1949 he joined the USAF as an aviation cadet where he flew AT-6s while in basic training at Waco, Texas; B-25s at the Advanced Training Course in Enid, Okla.; and earned his USAF Pilot wings in March 1950.

Mr Lingenfelser served in the Korean War with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) where he flew air evacuation flights out of Korea. In 1953 he earned his ATR at Kelly Field, Texas, and was hired by TWA as a First Officer and received his Captain rating in 1958. His first flight as a Captain was on a Constellation (Connie) in 1965 and he always said the Connie was his favorite aircraft of all time. His last seven years with TWA were flying the B-747. He retired November 1, 1986, after 33 years with TWA, saying, it was “The best job in the entire world.”

After retiring, he lived in the Spruce Creek Fly-in Community. Mr Lingenfelser was a member of TARPA, TWA Seniors, AOPA, Quite Birdmen, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Capitol Airlines Association, Spruce Creek Flying Club, former member of the Spruce Creek Country Club, and a Master Mason.

He said that he sincerely didn’t know how he could have had a more wonderful and fulfilling life and would not have traded it for any other. One of his last wishes was that his friends, on learning of his passing, raise their glass and toast his “final flight west.”

Mr Lingenfelser’s ashes will be scattered over the ocean at the same location as his son Charles’ were in 1994.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Volusia/Flagler County Hospice, 3800 Wood Briar Trail, Port Orange FL 32129.

Arrangements were under the direction of Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, Port Orange, Fla.

The Newtown Bee        November 5, 2010