Joseph Lentz, owner of store

Joseph M. Lentz, 81, of Carolina Shores, N.C., who retired in 1994 as owner of Dugout Sporting Goods in Lindenwold, died on Friday, July 24, at the Hospice House of Brunswick in Bolivia, N.C., following a stroke.

He had lived in North Carolina since 2006, the year he moved from Marlton.

Born in Camden, Mr. Lentz graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School there in 1952, and studied accounting and bookkeeping in night school, a son-in-law, Carlo DeProphetis, said.

Mr. Lentz began as a teller at Camden Trust Co., became a loan officer there, and left to buy a luncheonette on 27th Street in the Cramer Hill neighborhood in the mid-1960s, he said.

The store, DeProphetis said, "slowly was converted to a sport-goods store." It was named the Dugout "because his inventory started in the basement and slowly worked its way upstairs."

The Dugout, which eventually moved to Lindenwold, was operated from 1969 to 1994, when it was sold, DeProphetis said.

Mr. Lentz was president from 1967 to 1973 of the Cramer Hill Boys Club of Camden County, he said, "where many fund-raisers were held to support youth athletics."

DeProphetis recalled that Mr. Lentz "loved the Phillies by wearing a Phillies cap every day selected from his collection."

Mr. Lentz is survived by son Joseph M. Jr.; daughters Cheryl DeProphetis and Kim; a sister; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Esther, died in 1989.

A life celebration was set from 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Renovation Church, 2310 Highway 9 E., Longs, S.C.

Donations may be sent to www.hospiceandlifecare center.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.yourtribute.com.