Anthony D. Pelkey was born in Burlington, Vermont, second son and third child of Frank E. Pelkey II and Lucia Pafundi Pelkey, of Essex Center/Mallets Bay, Vermont.
Tony unexpectedly and suddenly succumbed to an ongoing illness at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Tony was the owner/operator of Gingersnaps Floral and Greenhouse, in Sparta, for over 30 years.
Prior to relocating to Tennessee, Tony served as an Air Policeman in the United States Air Force, stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base, south of Saigon, Viet Nam, 1965-1966. His prior tour was as an AP at the SAC (Strategic Air Command) Base in Plattsburg, New York. Upon completion of his four-year engagement with the Air Force, Tony was production supervisor at General Electric Armament Plant, in Burlington, Vermont. GE produced miniguns for military helicopters and other aircraft. Tony went on to be foreman of Test and Assembly at Hayward-Tyler Pump Company, in Burlington, Vermont, where industrial pumps were manufactured and assembled for nuclear and desalinization industries internationally.
Tony also owned and operated Pit Stop Enterprises, an automobile speed shop, specializing in race cars, in Jericho, Vermont. An avid motorcyclist, Tony enjoyed his Triumphs and BMWs also.
Tony was predeceased by two brothers, Frank and Nick; three brothers-in-law, Larry Packard, who had resided in Essex Center, Vermont, Alan “Buck” Minor, who had resided in Fairfax, Vermont, Ernest Williams, who had resided in Winooski/Malletts Bay, Vermont; and sisters-in-law, Maureen (Tew) Pelkey, who had resided in Albana, Vermont, and Annette Brosseau Minor Tefft, who had resided in St. Albans, Vermont.
Tony is survived by his wife of 52 years, Aline Brosseau Pelkey, of Winooski, Vermont; his sisters, Joanne Pelkey Packard, of Essex Center, Dolores Pekley Barndt, of Colchester, Vermont, Collen (Brian) Rathburn, of Pensacola, Florida, Melissa (Randy) LaFrance, of Colchester, Vermont; brothers, Denis (Debi), of Cookeville; Lester (Jeanette) Pelkey, of Essex Center, Vermont, Phillip (Dawn), of East Fairfield, Vermont, Timothy (Deborah), of St. Albans, Vermont, Theodore (Michelle), of St. Albans, Vermont; and numerous nieces and nephews.
An intimate gathering of family and dear friends was noon-1 p.m., Aug. 14, 2023, at Oak Lawn Funeral Home.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
