Earl F Kleintop

Max Kleintop, 86, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on October 10 after a long illness. Max was the loving husband of Mary Ann Bingaman Kleintop (Lakeland), who survives him, for 58 years. A native of Palmerton, PA, who moved from Telford, PA, in 1988, Max lived in Lakeland for 26 years. He is also survived by a son, Michael Kleintop, of Boston, Massachusetts, and a daughter, Margaret Becker Patterson, of Alexandria, Virginia. Other surviving family members are son-in-law Paul Patterson (Alexandria, VA), granddaughter Sarita Patterson (Shirlington, VA), grandson Wyatt Patterson (Alexandria, VA), sister, Elizabeth Klein (Camden, NJ), sister-in-law, Wilma Kleintop (Bethlehem, PA), and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Barbara Bingaman (State College, PA). He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Kleintop, Sr., in 1949, mother Elva Noll Kleintop, in 2001, and older brother, Arthur Kleintop, Jr, in 2008.

A lifelong traveler, Max was raised in Palmerton, PA, and moved to Fall River, MA, to pursue his first career at age 19. He was a graduate of Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (Media, PA), served as a radio operator and repairman in the US Army in Japan during the Korean War, and earned a bachelor degree in business administration from Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove, PA, class of 1957). He worked in machine sales and management positions in Indianapolis, Indiana and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1957 through 1971. A small business owner in Souderton and Telford, PA, Max was well known for automotive and lawn mower repair and as a handyman.He also operated a vending machine business and animal delivery service throughout the mid-Atlantic region. He taught automotive mechanics at North Penn Vocational School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, briefly before retiring to Florida.

Max was an active member of Lions Club in Franconia, PA, and Lakeland, FL, where he organized fundraisers and served as president. He was a long-time member of Lake Morton Community Church, where he led the building committee to raise the current sanctuary. During retirement he enjoyed travel to Spain, Jamaica, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and New Zealand. He was an avid boater, mechanic, and train enthusiast.

A memorial service will be held at Lake Morton Community Church, Lakeland, FL, on Wednesday, October 15, at 11 AM. Cremains will be interred at a future date. In lieu of flowers. the family requests that he be remembered through a donation to: Max Kleintop Memorial Fund, Dixieland Lions Club, P.O. Box 90665, Lakeland, FL 33804, or donate online to Good Shepherd Hospice, Lakeland, FL Http://www.chaptershealth.org/Giving

Arrangements under the direction of Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Auburndale, FL.