William or Bill was the 5th of 7 boys born to Charles Warren and Minnie Mae (Riegle) Lentz. He was full of fun and hardwork. He served his country during WW II along with his brothers. At that time he married Ruth Jean Wiest and they raised 3 boys: James, Andrew, and William.
A people person with an excellent memory of those he met, Bill was successful in business and politics.
Bill became a successful insurance salesman and real estate broker. Then in 1964, he defeated the "unbeatable" Harvey Taylor to become a Pennsylvania state senator. He had the unusual reputation of being an honest polititian who never forgot that he served at the will of the people. With all his success, the farm boy never left him. He raised five truck patches full of vegetables that he generally left on people's doorsteps.
From Upper Dauphin Sentinel – publication date September 20, 1977
Senator Bill Lentz Dies In Hospital
MILLERSBURG - William B. Lentz, our neighbor and friend who served 12 years in the State Senate, died Sunday afternoon, [September 18, 1977] in Harrisburg Hospital. Senator Lentz was 57.
He was born May 14, 1920, between Millersburg and Berrysburg, a son of the late Charles and Minnie May Riegle Lentz. He was one of seven boys in the Lentz family; one was killed in World War II, and another in the Korean Conflict.
In the 1964 spring nominating primary Bill Lentz scored one of the most remarkable election upsets in Pennsylvania history, ousting incumbent M. Harvey Taylor. Senator Taylor was, at that time, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and regarded as one of the most, if not the most, powerful Republican in the State. Bill ran against Senator Taylor because Taylor would not see him when Bill wanted to run for the legislature.
He began his campaign at Colonial Park Shopping Center, handing out lollipops and shaking hands with people. Person to person campaigning became the style that lead Lentz to victory in each ensuing election.
Lentz was more conservative than Taylor, but Taylor's loosely organized campaign was stalled by events surrounding the election. The closing of Hershey Junior College, and the refusal of Taylor to support the popular Blaine Hocker for State Legislature helped Lentz tremendously. When the final votes were counted, Bill Lentz defeated Taylor by 3,249 votes. He spent $3,657.17 on his - campaign. He defeated John D. Killian to be elected to the State Senate in November, 1964. He faced reelection in 1966, due to reapportionment, 1968 and 1972. Winning easily each time. When Bill retired from the Senate, he endorsed George Gekas to be his successor. Mr. Gekas is our current Senator.
For most of us, Bill Lentz was a neighbor and a friend. He loved farming, especially his garden. He cherished his moments with his family.
He married the former Ruth Wiest on St. Patrick's Day, 1943. They are the parents of three sons, James E. of Millersburg, Andrew E. and William C. of Harrisburg. They are the grandparents of Derek, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Lentz.
Bill always had a keen sense of humor and was always willing to talk to anyone he met on the street or who called him. He could be seen many times standing on a street corner in Millersburg just talking to one of his many neighbors. He always answered his calls and letters and made each constituent regardless of party affiliation, feel important and that their opinion meant something.
Senator William B. Lentz was a veteran of World War II and a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Millersburg Rotary Club and a member of Susquehanna Lodge 364, Tall, Cedars of Lebanon No. 125, Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 59, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5507, American Legion Post 326, and the Dauphin County Anglers and Conservationist, all of Millersburg. He was a member of the Harrisburg Consistory, BPO Elks Lodge 12 and the Historical Society of Dauphin County, all of Harrisburg.
He was also a member of the Dauphin County Young Republicans, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania's Centry Club, Dauphin County Volunteer Firemen's Association, and the National Grange.
He is survived by three brothers, Robert C. of Baltimore, Md., Paul J. of Woodside, Calif., and Carl C. of Harrisburg.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., at the Grace United Methodist Church, Millersburg, with his pastor, the Rev. Jack A. Morlock officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg. Pall bearers will be James Wright, John Troutman, Allen Shaffer, Thomas Higgins, Robert Rissinger, Barry Deaven, Fred Kocher and Gerald Reese.
Friends may call at the Reinhard Funeral Home, 512 Market St, Millersburg, Tuesday afternoon and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a viewing at the church Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Masonic Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Brothers:
Clair Riegle Lentz (1910 - 1975)
Richard Riegle Lentz (1912 - 1951)
Eugene Clinton Lentz (1915 - 1945)
Robert Calvin Lentz (1917 - 1997)
Senator William Benjamin Lentz (1920 - 1977)
Paul Jacob Lentz (1922 - 2005)
Carl Coolidge Lentz (1925 - 2006)
A people person with an excellent memory of those he met, Bill was successful in business and politics.
Bill became a successful insurance salesman and real estate broker. Then in 1964, he defeated the "unbeatable" Harvey Taylor to become a Pennsylvania state senator. He had the unusual reputation of being an honest polititian who never forgot that he served at the will of the people. With all his success, the farm boy never left him. He raised five truck patches full of vegetables that he generally left on people's doorsteps.
From Upper Dauphin Sentinel – publication date September 20, 1977
Senator Bill Lentz Dies In Hospital
MILLERSBURG - William B. Lentz, our neighbor and friend who served 12 years in the State Senate, died Sunday afternoon, [September 18, 1977] in Harrisburg Hospital. Senator Lentz was 57.
He was born May 14, 1920, between Millersburg and Berrysburg, a son of the late Charles and Minnie May Riegle Lentz. He was one of seven boys in the Lentz family; one was killed in World War II, and another in the Korean Conflict.
In the 1964 spring nominating primary Bill Lentz scored one of the most remarkable election upsets in Pennsylvania history, ousting incumbent M. Harvey Taylor. Senator Taylor was, at that time, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and regarded as one of the most, if not the most, powerful Republican in the State. Bill ran against Senator Taylor because Taylor would not see him when Bill wanted to run for the legislature.
He began his campaign at Colonial Park Shopping Center, handing out lollipops and shaking hands with people. Person to person campaigning became the style that lead Lentz to victory in each ensuing election.
Lentz was more conservative than Taylor, but Taylor's loosely organized campaign was stalled by events surrounding the election. The closing of Hershey Junior College, and the refusal of Taylor to support the popular Blaine Hocker for State Legislature helped Lentz tremendously. When the final votes were counted, Bill Lentz defeated Taylor by 3,249 votes. He spent $3,657.17 on his - campaign. He defeated John D. Killian to be elected to the State Senate in November, 1964. He faced reelection in 1966, due to reapportionment, 1968 and 1972. Winning easily each time. When Bill retired from the Senate, he endorsed George Gekas to be his successor. Mr. Gekas is our current Senator.
For most of us, Bill Lentz was a neighbor and a friend. He loved farming, especially his garden. He cherished his moments with his family.
He married the former Ruth Wiest on St. Patrick's Day, 1943. They are the parents of three sons, James E. of Millersburg, Andrew E. and William C. of Harrisburg. They are the grandparents of Derek, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Lentz.
Bill always had a keen sense of humor and was always willing to talk to anyone he met on the street or who called him. He could be seen many times standing on a street corner in Millersburg just talking to one of his many neighbors. He always answered his calls and letters and made each constituent regardless of party affiliation, feel important and that their opinion meant something.
Senator William B. Lentz was a veteran of World War II and a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Millersburg Rotary Club and a member of Susquehanna Lodge 364, Tall, Cedars of Lebanon No. 125, Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 59, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5507, American Legion Post 326, and the Dauphin County Anglers and Conservationist, all of Millersburg. He was a member of the Harrisburg Consistory, BPO Elks Lodge 12 and the Historical Society of Dauphin County, all of Harrisburg.
He was also a member of the Dauphin County Young Republicans, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania's Centry Club, Dauphin County Volunteer Firemen's Association, and the National Grange.
He is survived by three brothers, Robert C. of Baltimore, Md., Paul J. of Woodside, Calif., and Carl C. of Harrisburg.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., at the Grace United Methodist Church, Millersburg, with his pastor, the Rev. Jack A. Morlock officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg. Pall bearers will be James Wright, John Troutman, Allen Shaffer, Thomas Higgins, Robert Rissinger, Barry Deaven, Fred Kocher and Gerald Reese.
Friends may call at the Reinhard Funeral Home, 512 Market St, Millersburg, Tuesday afternoon and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a viewing at the church Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Masonic Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Brothers:
Clair Riegle Lentz (1910 - 1975)
Richard Riegle Lentz (1912 - 1951)
Eugene Clinton Lentz (1915 - 1945)
Robert Calvin Lentz (1917 - 1997)
Senator William Benjamin Lentz (1920 - 1977)
Paul Jacob Lentz (1922 - 2005)
Carl Coolidge Lentz (1925 - 2006)
William or Bill was the 5th of 7 boys born to Charles Warren and Minnie Mae (Riegle) Lentz. He was full of fun and hardwork. He served his country during WW II along with his brothers. At that time he married Ruth Jean Wiest and they raised 3 boys: James, Andrew, and William.
A people person with an excellent memory of those he met, Bill was successful in business and politics.
Bill became a successful insurance salesman and real estate broker. Then in 1964, he defeated the "unbeatable" Harvey Taylor to become a Pennsylvania state senator. He had the unusual reputation of being an honest polititian who never forgot that he served at the will of the people. With all his success, the farm boy never left him. He raised five truck patches full of vegetables that he generally left on people's doorsteps.
From Upper Dauphin Sentinel – publication date September 20, 1977
Senator Bill Lentz Dies In Hospital
MILLERSBURG - William B. Lentz, our neighbor and friend who served 12 years in the State Senate, died Sunday afternoon, [September 18, 1977] in Harrisburg Hospital. Senator Lentz was 57.
He was born May 14, 1920, between Millersburg and Berrysburg, a son of the late Charles and Minnie May Riegle Lentz. He was one of seven boys in the Lentz family; one was killed in World War II, and another in the Korean Conflict.
In the 1964 spring nominating primary Bill Lentz scored one of the most remarkable election upsets in Pennsylvania history, ousting incumbent M. Harvey Taylor. Senator Taylor was, at that time, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and regarded as one of the most, if not the most, powerful Republican in the State. Bill ran against Senator Taylor because Taylor would not see him when Bill wanted to run for the legislature.
He began his campaign at Colonial Park Shopping Center, handing out lollipops and shaking hands with people. Person to person campaigning became the style that lead Lentz to victory in each ensuing election.
Lentz was more conservative than Taylor, but Taylor's loosely organized campaign was stalled by events surrounding the election. The closing of Hershey Junior College, and the refusal of Taylor to support the popular Blaine Hocker for State Legislature helped Lentz tremendously. When the final votes were counted, Bill Lentz defeated Taylor by 3,249 votes. He spent $3,657.17 on his - campaign. He defeated John D. Killian to be elected to the State Senate in November, 1964. He faced reelection in 1966, due to reapportionment, 1968 and 1972. Winning easily each time. When Bill retired from the Senate, he endorsed George Gekas to be his successor. Mr. Gekas is our current Senator.
For most of us, Bill Lentz was a neighbor and a friend. He loved farming, especially his garden. He cherished his moments with his family.
He married the former Ruth Wiest on St. Patrick's Day, 1943. They are the parents of three sons, James E. of Millersburg, Andrew E. and William C. of Harrisburg. They are the grandparents of Derek, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Lentz.
Bill always had a keen sense of humor and was always willing to talk to anyone he met on the street or who called him. He could be seen many times standing on a street corner in Millersburg just talking to one of his many neighbors. He always answered his calls and letters and made each constituent regardless of party affiliation, feel important and that their opinion meant something.
Senator William B. Lentz was a veteran of World War II and a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Millersburg Rotary Club and a member of Susquehanna Lodge 364, Tall, Cedars of Lebanon No. 125, Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 59, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5507, American Legion Post 326, and the Dauphin County Anglers and Conservationist, all of Millersburg. He was a member of the Harrisburg Consistory, BPO Elks Lodge 12 and the Historical Society of Dauphin County, all of Harrisburg.
He was also a member of the Dauphin County Young Republicans, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania's Centry Club, Dauphin County Volunteer Firemen's Association, and the National Grange.
He is survived by three brothers, Robert C. of Baltimore, Md., Paul J. of Woodside, Calif., and Carl C. of Harrisburg.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., at the Grace United Methodist Church, Millersburg, with his pastor, the Rev. Jack A. Morlock officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg. Pall bearers will be James Wright, John Troutman, Allen Shaffer, Thomas Higgins, Robert Rissinger, Barry Deaven, Fred Kocher and Gerald Reese.
Friends may call at the Reinhard Funeral Home, 512 Market St, Millersburg, Tuesday afternoon and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a viewing at the church Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Masonic Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Brothers:
Clair Riegle Lentz (1910 - 1975)
Richard Riegle Lentz (1912 - 1951)
Eugene Clinton Lentz (1915 - 1945)
Robert Calvin Lentz (1917 - 1997)
Senator William Benjamin Lentz (1920 - 1977)
Paul Jacob Lentz (1922 - 2005)
Carl Coolidge Lentz (1925 - 2006)
A people person with an excellent memory of those he met, Bill was successful in business and politics.
Bill became a successful insurance salesman and real estate broker. Then in 1964, he defeated the "unbeatable" Harvey Taylor to become a Pennsylvania state senator. He had the unusual reputation of being an honest polititian who never forgot that he served at the will of the people. With all his success, the farm boy never left him. He raised five truck patches full of vegetables that he generally left on people's doorsteps.
From Upper Dauphin Sentinel – publication date September 20, 1977
Senator Bill Lentz Dies In Hospital
MILLERSBURG - William B. Lentz, our neighbor and friend who served 12 years in the State Senate, died Sunday afternoon, [September 18, 1977] in Harrisburg Hospital. Senator Lentz was 57.
He was born May 14, 1920, between Millersburg and Berrysburg, a son of the late Charles and Minnie May Riegle Lentz. He was one of seven boys in the Lentz family; one was killed in World War II, and another in the Korean Conflict.
In the 1964 spring nominating primary Bill Lentz scored one of the most remarkable election upsets in Pennsylvania history, ousting incumbent M. Harvey Taylor. Senator Taylor was, at that time, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and regarded as one of the most, if not the most, powerful Republican in the State. Bill ran against Senator Taylor because Taylor would not see him when Bill wanted to run for the legislature.
He began his campaign at Colonial Park Shopping Center, handing out lollipops and shaking hands with people. Person to person campaigning became the style that lead Lentz to victory in each ensuing election.
Lentz was more conservative than Taylor, but Taylor's loosely organized campaign was stalled by events surrounding the election. The closing of Hershey Junior College, and the refusal of Taylor to support the popular Blaine Hocker for State Legislature helped Lentz tremendously. When the final votes were counted, Bill Lentz defeated Taylor by 3,249 votes. He spent $3,657.17 on his - campaign. He defeated John D. Killian to be elected to the State Senate in November, 1964. He faced reelection in 1966, due to reapportionment, 1968 and 1972. Winning easily each time. When Bill retired from the Senate, he endorsed George Gekas to be his successor. Mr. Gekas is our current Senator.
For most of us, Bill Lentz was a neighbor and a friend. He loved farming, especially his garden. He cherished his moments with his family.
He married the former Ruth Wiest on St. Patrick's Day, 1943. They are the parents of three sons, James E. of Millersburg, Andrew E. and William C. of Harrisburg. They are the grandparents of Derek, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Lentz.
Bill always had a keen sense of humor and was always willing to talk to anyone he met on the street or who called him. He could be seen many times standing on a street corner in Millersburg just talking to one of his many neighbors. He always answered his calls and letters and made each constituent regardless of party affiliation, feel important and that their opinion meant something.
Senator William B. Lentz was a veteran of World War II and a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Millersburg Rotary Club and a member of Susquehanna Lodge 364, Tall, Cedars of Lebanon No. 125, Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 59, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5507, American Legion Post 326, and the Dauphin County Anglers and Conservationist, all of Millersburg. He was a member of the Harrisburg Consistory, BPO Elks Lodge 12 and the Historical Society of Dauphin County, all of Harrisburg.
He was also a member of the Dauphin County Young Republicans, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania's Centry Club, Dauphin County Volunteer Firemen's Association, and the National Grange.
He is survived by three brothers, Robert C. of Baltimore, Md., Paul J. of Woodside, Calif., and Carl C. of Harrisburg.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., at the Grace United Methodist Church, Millersburg, with his pastor, the Rev. Jack A. Morlock officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg. Pall bearers will be James Wright, John Troutman, Allen Shaffer, Thomas Higgins, Robert Rissinger, Barry Deaven, Fred Kocher and Gerald Reese.
Friends may call at the Reinhard Funeral Home, 512 Market St, Millersburg, Tuesday afternoon and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a viewing at the church Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Masonic Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Brothers:
Clair Riegle Lentz (1910 - 1975)
Richard Riegle Lentz (1912 - 1951)
Eugene Clinton Lentz (1915 - 1945)
Robert Calvin Lentz (1917 - 1997)
Senator William Benjamin Lentz (1920 - 1977)
Paul Jacob Lentz (1922 - 2005)
Carl Coolidge Lentz (1925 - 2006)
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