PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Tingue, Brown & Co., a supplier to the industrial laundry industry, reports that William James “Bill” Tingue died May 8 at the age of 85.
He dedicated 45 years of his professional life to the family business, which was founded by his grandfather in 1902.
Born in New York City and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut, Tingue was a graduate of the Choate School and Brown University, Class of 1962. While at Brown, he co-founded the Brown Rugby Club and participated in the Naval ROTC program.
Shortly after graduating, he married the love of his life, Diane Edmondson Crater—affectionately known as “Dookie”—and began his two-year service with the United States Navy in fall 1962.
Tingue steadily advanced through the company, becoming president in 1985 and CEO in 1992. After retiring in 2007, he remained active on the company’s board of directors until 2021.
Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth, expanding into new markets through its Meese division and broadening its offerings to laundries with the acquisition of Talley Machinery.
A respected industry leader, Tingue was recognized by several chapters of the National Association of Institutional Linen Management (now the Association for Linen Management) as Allied Tradesman of the Year. He also served on the board of directors for TRSA, receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and was a founding board member of the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA).
Outside of work, Tingue was an avid golfer and fly fisherman, but his greatest outdoor joy came from hiking the mountains near his home in Sun Valley, Idaho, alongside his wife.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Morrison Tingue and Marjorie Stewart Tingue; his sister, Molly; and his daughter-in-law, Robin.
Surviving are his wife Dookie, daughter Margret Shuford (Robert), sons David (Andrea) and Chris, and four grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service later this year.
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