John Calvin Lingle
John Calvin Lingle was born in Union County on Nov. 7, 1940, the son of Melvin and Hazel Sitter Lingle, and died on Jan. 11, 2022, in Bradenton, Fla., after a sudden illness.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1966 (including Germany during the Berlin Crisis) and then graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1970.
Mr. Lingle’s service with the U.S. Postal Service began when he served as the U.S. postmaster in Alto Pass before joining the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in 1971, where he served as a postal inspector until his retirement in 1993.
His postings led Mr. Lingle and his family to move away from Southern Illinois, first to Huntsville, Ala., then to Nashville, Tenn., and Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Lingle retired out of the Memphis office. Despite living a lifetime outside of Southern Illinois, he always considered it home.
After his retirement in 1993, John and Carolyn bought a gentleman’s farm in Normandy, Tenn., planted a large garden and raised cattle for a few years.
Having both grown up in Southern Illinois, John and Carolyn enjoyed the slower pace and rural setting of the farm.
Likewise, the farm became a fun getaway for their children and grandchildren. The family enjoyed many weekends hanging out in the back yard, cooking out while the grandchildren played in the yard, sitting in front of an open fire and hiking over the 65-acre spread.
He loved taking the grandchildren for rides on the tractor or walks around the farm. The grandchildren also enjoyed swinging on the tire swing, chasing the chickens and guinea hens and playing in the creek.
A highlight of many of those weekend visits was hearing John tell stories of his youth, time in the army, or working years with the Postal Inspection Service; he was an animated storyteller.
After wintering in Florida for several years, John and Carolyn made Bradenton, Fla., their permanent home in 2014. They enjoyed bicycling the many trails in the Bradenton area and John enjoyed boating and fishing.
While they enjoyed the warmer climate in Florida, they missed being close to their children and grandchildren and always enjoyed their visits.
He is survived by his best friend and the love of his life, Carolyn Vogt Lingle; their children, Carla (Chris) Lovell, John (Kim) Lingle and Dana (Ron) Grover; grandchildren Caitlyn and Carson Lovell, Johnny and Jennie Lingle and Madelyn Grover; brothers James and Richard Lingle; and a sister, Sarah Barnhart. His parents and brother, Earl, preceded him in death.
Mr. Lingle had an engaging smile, a twinkle in his eyes (especially when talking to or about Carolyn) and an infectious laugh. He loved life, he loved his country and he loved his family. His legacy lives on in his wife, children and grandchildren.
His remains will be laid to rest at Alto Pass Cemetery on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Tom Murdock of First Christian Church in Tullahoma, Tenn., presiding.
Memorials can be made in his honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., or to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Va.