Raymond Joseph Stenger

Bartow - Raymond Joseph Stenger, 96 passed away Saturday, March 23, 2013. Mr. Stenger was born December 8, 1916 in Lake Garfield (Bartow), FL, He retired from the FBI in 1975 and returned to Bartow, residing at the family homestead, where his father (John Stenger, Sr.) settled in 1910 growing citrus. He was a member of the Florida National Guard and a veteran of the US Navy (1941). Mr. Stenger joined the FBI in March 1942 and was assigned to the electronics and communications section of the FBI laboratory. He participated in SIS operations in Central & South America from 1942 to 1947. He was assigned to the legal attache office in Quito, Ecuador, Havana, Cuba; and San Salvador; El Salvador. In 1947, he married Gloria Forcke of Roatan, Honduras, a stewardess with TACA Airways. In the same year, he was assigned to the FBI Atlanta Field Office, where he served until his retirement. He was a graduate of Summerlin High School, the Advanced Naval Radio School of Charleston, SC, the Georgia Institute of Technology EES, and the Woodrow Wilson Law School (LLB). He was a member of Atlanta Astronomy Club, Sigma Delta Kappa, the Alford Memorial Radio Club and AARL. His hobbies included, amateur radio (W4NWK), flying and genealogy. He was preceded in death by two sons, Lowell Stenger and Timmy Stenger. Mr. Stenger is survived by his wife of 66 years, Gloria Stenger. Two daughters; Donna Bohanan (Bob) and Rebecca Valdez (Mike). Three sons; Ron Stenger (Julie), Mark Stenger, Lawrence Stenger (Claire) all of Atlanta, GA. Brother; John G Stenger, Jr. of Bartow. Eleven Grandchildren; Jenny Bennett, Jamie Bennett, Elizabeth Driver, Alexandra Stenger, Tasha Stenger, Taylor Stenger, Kate Valdez, Tess Valdez, Linda Valdez, Will Stenger and Garret Stenger. Two great grandchildren; Mason Alexander and Bailey Bennett. Family will receive friends Monday, March 25, 2013 from 5-7 pm at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Funeral service will be held 10:00 am Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Interment will be held at Lakeland Memorial Gardens.