Obituary of Philip A. Lankarge

Philip Anthony Lankarge, 72, of Glastonbury, CT, passed away at his home on August 25, 2022.  Born in Hartford, the son of Paul and Vera Lankarge, Phil was raised in Glastonbury and lived there for the majority of his life. He graduated from Glastonbury High School in 1967 and recently attended his 55 year reunion. He entered the US Marine Corps in 1970 and served for 4 years, during which time he was stationed in both Japan and California. He was honorably discharged from the service, having earned both a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. Through his active duty, he was trained as an Air Traffic Controller which would ultimately lead to his career in aviation. He returned to Connecticut and went back to work for Pratt & Whitney, where he had worked prior to enlisting, and was soon thereafter promoted to Air Traffic Controller for the private airport at Pratt—which would later become United Technologies. Over the years that followed, he would also study and be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Dispatcher, and also in Tower and Radar Approach Control. He was a Flight Engineer for several years, which gave him the opportunity to travel around the globe on numerous private aircrafts. He would go on to be the Tower Chief at Rentschler Airfield, and would be known for years as the “Voice of UTFlight,” with his daily recordings of flight and crew schedules. He retired in 2012 and gardening became his passion. He happily spent his retirement years building and maintaining his backyard garden oasis on Treat Pond in Glastonbury. It was his little slice of Heaven on Earth. There, he would host many memorable picnics for his large circle of friends who were very much like family to him. He was also involved with the Glastonbury ABC House, heading up a department that performed repairs on this boarding house for underprivileged youths. He never forgot anybody who ever helped him, and he loved to help others. Phil was a generous and loving friend to many who will miss him dearly. His hearty laughter and his words of wisdom will echo in our hearts for the rest of our days. He is survived by his son, David Lankarge, and wife Jennifer Lankarge, of Austin, TX; his granddaughter, Katrina Lankarge, also of Austin, TX; his nephew, Pete Lankarge, and fiancée, Amanda Chamberlin, of Portsmouth, RI; his niece, Meredith Lankarge, of South Glastonbury; and his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lankarge, of South Glastonbury. He was predeceased by his parents, and by his brother, Paul Lankarge, of Glastonbury. Calling hours will be held at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury on Saturday, September 3, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, followed immediately by a graveside service at 11:30 am, with Military Honors, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 17 Wickham Road in Glastonbury. A special celebration of Phil’s life will follow in the afternoon. For online condolences, please visit: www.mulryanfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.