Thomas Roy Wenger, 85

October 06, 2025

Thomas Roy Wenger, 85, of Lancaster, passed away at The Glen at Willow Valley Communities on Monday, October 6, 2025, after a long struggle with dementia.

Born on July 28, 1940, to the late Raymond and Jennie (Harner) Wenger, Tom’s life was marked by his lifelong love of family, friends, and the outdoors. He found peace and joy in the mountains, along rivers, and on the Chesapeake Bay.

Tom graduated from East Lampeter High School and Franklin & Marshall College (’62) and earned a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Delaware. He began his career with the Lancaster City Planning Department before settling with his family in Elizabethtown. There, he served as Vice President for Alexander Properties and later at Rhodes Development Group, where he developed projects including low-income multi-family housing and local medical centers. He served on the board of Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity for many years and volunteered with the Elizabethtown Planning Commission.

Tom’s happiest moments were spent hunting, fishing, and enjoying time at the mountain cabins he shared with long-time friends and where he took his family for countless weekends. He had a deep passion for exploring family history and photography, capturing thousands of family moments and hundreds of sunsets over the bay in Rock Hall, Maryland–where he and Marian found a beloved second home that became a gathering place for friends and family. Tom lived with a feisty, can-do mindset, whether tackling a plumbing project, troubleshooting a computer issue, or remodeling his garage and basement into beautiful gathering spaces.

Tom’s legacy lives on through his beloved wife of 63 years, Marian, and his three daughters: Barb Wenger (Jenn), Adrienne Edgar (Dan), and Christina Gauss (Ted). “Grandpa Tommie” or “T-pa” was devoted to and reveled in his seven grandchildren: Elijah, Ben, Dylan, Kate, Julia, Natalie, and Cici. He is also survived by his brother Neill (Jane) and his nephews Alex and Mathew. He was predeceased by his baby sister Kathy. Tom also leaves behind lifelong friends with whom he shared the mountain cabins, monthly poker games, trips, and the annual Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Tournament–where they once took the grand prize.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers who cared for Tom with full hearts, offering support and dignity to Tom through his final years.

Friends and family will be received at 10AM on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584. A Memorial Service will follow beginning at 10:30AM with the services being livestreamed.

In his memory, contributions may be made to the Lancaster-Lebanon Habitat for Humanity at: Lancaster Lebanon Habitat For Humanity or the Lancaster Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at: Greater Pennsylvania Chapter | Alzheimer’s Association.