Mr. Glenn Edward Lingafeldt, 77, of Denver, N.C. passed away after a short period of declining health on Sunday, October 15th, 2023.

He was born on August 14th, 1946, in Morganton, N.C. to the late Ray and Nell Lingafeldt, the youngest of seven children.

Glenn graduated from Drexel High School in May of 1965 and proposed to the love of his life and wife of 58 years, Tonia Elaine Brittain. They married ahead of schedule on December 17th, 1965, after he volunteered the draft to serve in the US Army. He entered basic training at Fort Gordon and was later stationed at Fort Knox. Compelled by the call of duty and world events, he volunteered for service in Vietnam from ‘67-’68. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

Upon discharge from the Army, Glenn used his GI Bill funds to attend Catawba Valley Technical Institute where he studied to become an electrician. This would serve as the foundation of a career in the residential home building industry. In 1971, he founded Lingafeldt Electrical Company which wired many new homes built in Burke County through the early 70’s. Always a student, he earned his NC electrical, plumbing, mechanical and contractor’s licenses. During the 80’s, Glenn supervised the Burke County Building Inspections Department. In 1991, he took a position with NC Licensing Board for General Contractors where he supervised field investigations for the entire state. During this time, he was professionally active, regularly attending state and national building code conventions. He reentered private industry in 2002 as the Compliance Officer for America’s Home Place, a large-scale regional builder. In this role, he attained building contractor licenses in many of the states throughout the Southeast.

Glenn was also passionate about teaching others. Throughout his career, he taught electrical courses at Guilford, Western Piedmont, and Rowan Community Colleges. When NC mandated annual hours of continuing education for licensed electricians, he and his wife founded GEL Code Licensing Workshops. Together they created and published training materials and organized weekend courses throughout the state where electricians could receive continuing education credits to maintain their licenses.

Glenn was proud to be raised in a Southern Baptist family in the foothills of NC. Faith and church played a major role in his life. In the early 80’s he felt the call to ministry. With his wife and church’s support, he left work for a year to attend Fruitland Bible Institute and earned a master’s degree in ministry. Once ordained, he became the pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Burke County’s South Mountain region. He was passionate about his ministry, dedicating himself to growing the church and serving the congregation. Glenn applied his knowledge of building to this work as well, adding two major additions to the historic sanctuary that provided a large fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms for the growing congregation.

Glenn was preceded in death by his sisters Dorothy Ann, Katherine, Sarah, Mildred and his brother Earl. He is survived by his wife, Tonia; son, Darren (wife Courtney); daughter, Regina Whiteside (husband Andy); beloved sister, Faye and five grandchildren; Luke, Morgan, Leah, Cole and Harper. Glenn had many great accomplishments in his lifetime but was most proud of his loving family.

A service will be held at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese, NC on Saturday, October 21st. Receiving friends 1-2pm, Service 2-3pm followed by the graveside service at Burke Memorial Park.

The family is eternally grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff of the South Charlotte VA Clinic, Atrium Health Lincoln Hospital and the Levine & Dickson Hospice House Huntersville for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville NC at 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078.