Dr. Ling was born on July 23, 1929 in Lake Placid, the second of five sons, to Loren A. Ling of Lake Placid and Coralene B. Potter of Upper Jay.
Dr. Ling attended public elementary school in Upper Jay and junior high at Central Park School in Schenectady. He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and served as a paratrooper with the 187th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division for 17 months during the occupation of Japan.
Upon separation from the Army, he graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady and entered Siena College in Loudonville as a pre-med student. He was accepted early at Columbia University in the City of New York School of Optometry, and earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree there. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree at Massachusetts College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Ling established his optometric practice, now known as Family Vision Care Center, on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Many new optometrists coming into practice interned in Dr. Ling’s office over the years. Children’s visual development was of special interest to Dr. Ling in his practice and he continued to educate himself along that line by certificate from Yale University, Geselle Institute of Child Development’s “Vision, The School Age Child” curriculum. Throughout his career he was available to many public schools and organizations to educate about children’s developmental vision. He participated in personal vision screenings by area service clubs and public schools throughout the area.
Dr. Ling was very active in organized professional optometry. He was a member of the Eastern New York Optometric Society, in which he served as president and was awarded “Optometrist of the Year” in 1974. He was also a member of the New York State Optometric Association, where he served as president and was declared “New York State Optometrist of the Year” in 1985. Over many years, Dr. Ling worked to further his profession as “Key Man” representing New York State optometrists in Washington, DC. The American Optometric Association appointed him treasurer of their National Political Action Committee in 1985. He served as a member of the Medical Advisory Board to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and as an examiner for the New York State Board of Examiners in Optometry for licensing to fit contact lenses. The New York State Legislature passed a joint resolution honoring him for his long service to the Saratoga Springs community.
Dr. Ling was elected to the Saratoga Springs City School Board in 1960. He was president of that body when the district consolidated the outlying elementary schools and acquired the property to construct a new high school, still at its present location. Other community activities included: Chairman of the committee to establish Wesley Nursing Home in Saratoga Springs; active involvement to build The First United Methodist Church in Saratoga Springs; Chairman and organizer of the Saratoga County Health Council; Saratoga County representative to the Upper Hudson Regional Health Planning Organization; charter member and Vice-President of the Saratoga Springs YMCA; Trustee, Saratoga Red Cross; Adirondack Library System; consultant, Skidmore College’s “New Family Project”; vision consultant, Wesley Nursing Home; and vision safety consultant to General Foods Carton and Container Division. He was also a Saratoga Springs mayoral candidate in 1970.
Dr. Ling retired from private practice in 1997, having served the Saratoga Springs community for more than 42 years. He and his wife Mary Ann moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, his favorite vacation retreat, to be “on vacation all the time.” He often mused that he missed having contact with the many residents of Saratoga County who became his friends and patients through his practice.
Dr. Ling is predeceased by both parents and two brothers: Loren A. Ling, Jr. of San Diego, California and infant Carleton W. Ling. He is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Mary Ann Schad Adams Ling, daughter of the late John Schad and Katherine Schad of Chester, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by four children from his marriage to Marilyn B. Stewart: William T. Ling, Jr (Nancy Raye Ling) of Lake Clear, John T. Ling of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Daniel J. Ling (Dr. Theresa Blackstone) of Middle Grove, and Marilyn A. Ling of Tampa, Florida; two stepchildren: Christine Adams Mastrianni (James Mastrianni) of Greenfield Center, and Gregory Adams of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; two brothers: Marvin R. Ling of Schenectady and Robert L. Ling of Greer, South Carolina; five grandchildren: Carrine Ling Henry (Gene Henry) of Hudson Falls, Kelsey Ling and Ryan Ling of Middle Grove, Monica Pagan (Jason Pagan) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Marin Mastrianni of Greenfield Center. He also leaves eight great-grandchildren: Aaron Ling, Brandon Cannon, Lauren Cannon and Vivian Henry of Hudson Falls; Nathan Minor, Mateo Pagan, Edward Pagan and Jason Pagan, Jr of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
The family of Dr. Ling would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Mercy Care Hospice of Myrtle Beach. A memorial service will be held in July in Saratoga Springs.
