Granville Homer “Ted” Lingard lost his long battle with lung cancer July 9.
He was born March 9, 1934 to Ronald and Ellen Knarr Lingard, and grew up in the North End of Manchester, Conn., a half block away from the 8th Utilities District Fire Headquarters.
He joined the department when he was 15 as a volunteer and graduated from Manchester High School in 1952. He attained the position of chief in 1968 and served for 12 years while the fire district tripled in size with the annexation of Buckland. While chief, Ted oversaw building Station Two, acquiring Rescue 5 and elevating apparatus, and implementing tone alert dispatching, the night crew, female firefighters and fire safety programs. Ted continued his service in Manchester as Fire Marshal until his retirement in 1999 when he moved to Southport.
He soon joined the Southport Fire Department and served as secretary/treasurer for many years. Ted became Southport’s Emergency Management Director in 2005 and worked alongside many county, state and local officials. The “Spirit of America” award was presented to him in 2017 by the Southport Board of Selectmen.
In addition to his fire department career, Ted and his wife owned and operated Lingard Cabinet Company which manufactured architectural millwork and custom cabinetry in Manchester for 25 years. Ted was fond of woodworking, hunting, boating, his beloved golden retrievers, keeping an eye on the weather, and staying in touch with fellow members of the “Wrecking Crew.”
Ted is survived by wife, Carol; daughters, Veronica Rudy and husband Brad of Sarasota, Fla., and Kathy Brown of Ashford, Conn.; sons, Daniel Lingard of Eastford, Conn., and Todd Lingard and wife Hilary of Glastonbury, Conn.; grandchildren, Whitney, Tyler and wife Jessica, Emily, Alissa, Kyle, Christian, and Cody; stepson, Wes Simpson and wife Laurie of Orange, Conn., and their children Taylor and Cameron; sisters, Joan Dugas of Plymouth, Mass., and Donna Kaufman of Summerfield, Fla.; along with numerous nieces, nephews and their spouses and children.
A celebration of life will be held at 4:30-7 p.m., Sat., July 21 at Southport Town Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southport Fire Department, P.O. Box 149 Southport, ME 04576.
To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com.
Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements.
