OBITUARY OF EARLE C. TINGLEY
Earle C. (Sonny) Tingley of Winter Haven, Florida passed away on April 13, 2024, with his family by his side. He was 76 years old.
Sonny was born in Lake Providence, Louisiana on April 15, 1947. He and his family moved to Houston, Texas in 1961 where he graduated from Spring Branch High School. Sonny enlisted in the Air Force in 1967. He served as a Staff Sergeant and was trained as a linguist in Intelligence translating Romanian in Istanbul, Turkey. He left the service in 1971 and attended Texas A&M University where his father was an alumna.
Sonny began his career in Houston, Texas at Prudential where he did computer programming. He then worked as an independent computer consultant. American General, Brown and Root, Maryland Club Coffee, Texas Commerce Bank and Coca Cola were among his clients.
While in Houston he met and married Edith Morley. Their son, Stephen Andrew was born in 1984 and their daughter Jennifer Elizabeth in 1987. Most extended family lived nearby, and they enjoyed many holiday celebrations and vacations together. Sonny was an avid outdoorsman and trips to Galveston, Love Lady, Uvalde and Foxfire usually centered around hunting or fishing. He also joined Hearthstone Country Club and played golf in his spare time.
ln 1997 Sonny accepted an offer from Cutrale Citrus in Auburndale, Florida as Director of Information Services and the family moved to Winter Haven, Florida. After studying and earning the licenses required to be a financial advisor he worked for A.G Edwards & Sons which later became Wells Fargo from where he retired in 2018.
After moving to Winter Haven, Sonny joined the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club where he developed his golf game and made many long-term friendships. Sony served as Commodore in 2004.
Since retiring, he has pursued his passions of golf, hunting and fishing. He also loved spending time with` his four grandchildren and encouraging their love for the outdoors by taking them fishing, hunting and camping.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mercille Clement Tingley and Lawrence H. Tingley, his sister Beverly, brother Walter and sister Bettye.
He is survived by his wife, Edith Tingley, his son, Stephen Tingley and daughter, Jennifer Ginther, his grandchildren, Brodie, Evelyn, William and Margot, and his sisters, Robin and Sheryl.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Country Club of Winter Haven on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 11:30 am.
He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in his name to the Moffitt Cancer Center.
