Leonard (Lenny) R. Hulme of Doylestown, PA, passed away on November 18, 2023, at Doylestown hospital. He was 91 years old. He had been married for 54 years to his wife, Mary Maxwell Hulme, who died in 2007. Born in Philadelphia, Lenny was the son of John R. Hulme and Ann Wolfe Hulme of Philadelphia.
Lenny was a Navy veteran, who served during the Korean War on the USS Loeser, a destroyer escort. He was very proud of having served his country and maintained a life-long connection to all things Navy. He could typically be found sporting his Navy baseball cap. Lenny’s other great love was sports, and in particular, local high school baseball and football, where he served from 2002-2015 as a volunteer assistant coach for Central Bucks West Baseball and Football and Central Bucks South Baseball. He thoroughly enjoyed his time with these teams, and the daily contact with wonderful high school athletes. This pastime kept him young, and earned him the nickname “Coach,” a moniker that followed him for the rest of his life.
Lenny spent nearly his entire career in the food service industry, beginning in sales and progressing to a Vice President position at Rotelle Incorporated, first in Spring House, then West Point, PA, before he retired in 1993. He began this career at a time when frozen food was still an unusual household staple, and when home freezers were very small. Len was a key player in frozen food industry, introducing many now well-known brands to the Delaware Valley market, and helping local retailers like Acme, Genuardis, and Clemens establish the kinds of comprehensive frozen food departments we are familiar with today.
After his retirement, when he wasn’t coaching, Len could be found walking the Central Bucks West track, and was a familiar face in Doylestown Borough, catching up with old and new friends, and frequenting Doylestown businesses, like Kenny’s News Agency, Bagel Barrel, and Chambers. He was always willing to stop and chat. His children and grandchildren were used to acquaintances saying, “I know your Dad/Pop Pop! What a wonderful guy he is!”
Len and his wife and love of his life Mary were happily married for 54 years when she died in 2007, and he missed her each and every day. Len is survived by his three children and spouses/significant others, his children Leah Hulme Dillon and husband John Dillon; Jeffrey Hulme and his wife Mary Hulme; MaryAnn Baenninger and her partner Charlie Adams; grandchildren, Meredith Chatot and her husband Brian, Juliet Harkanson and her husband Tommy; Jeffrey Hulme, Justin Hulme, Maggie Baenninger Nass and her husband Karl, and Dan Moore and his wife Lucy; and great-grandchildren Lukas and Sela Nass, and Jack and Luke Moore.
Friends and family are invited to Visitation, which will be held Friday, December 15, 1 to 3 p.m. (with memories of Len at 2:30 p.m.), at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Make the World Better Foundation at www.mtwb.org . MTWB believes that communities prosper when all people have access to high-quality public spaces that provide safe outlets for recreation, sports, and arts-based activities