John H Ingram

October 15, 1925 - March 1, 2013

John Henry Ingram, 87, passed away at 10 am on Friday, March 1, 2013, after a long illness. Fondly known as Uncle Johnny to a large extended family, and John to an army of friends, he was born October 15, 1925, in Stateline, Louisiana, and lived most of his 87 years in Bogalusa. As a member of the U.S. Army, he proudly served his country in combat in Europe during World War II and was awarded several honors including a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart. He was lucky in many respects to survive, but very fortunate in another, as he met his future first wife of 37 years??, Jocelyn Mann, who was in Europe serving in the American Red Cross. While remaining in the Army Reserves, John was later called to serve stateside in Virginia during the Korean War. In addition to loving his country, John also loved his community and eagerly volunteered for numerous civic offices including the Park Commission, the Washington Parish Conservation Club, and the Boy Scouts of America. For his long service to the Boy Scouts, he received the Silver Beaver Award, one of the highest offered by that organization. As a man of many skills, who started full-time work at age 15, he was employed at various times as a carpenter, trucker, grocer, butcher, insurance salesman, but he was best known for his work as an electrician serving for a long time with Hoffman Electric and Bogalusa Air Conditioning, and later with City of Bogalusa, from where he retired in 1994, a job he said was absolutely his favorite. Beyond his many hundreds of friends, John is survived by his second beloved wife, Helen Martin, and they would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on April 2, 2013. John was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Rose Ingram, his brothers, Otha, Esley, and Oviede, and sisters—Leona, Rebecca, Annie, Toby, and Margie, making him the last of that generation. His beloved wife, Lynn, died in 1983. He is survived by his three children, Don Ingram of Baton Rouge, Jennifer Ingram of Columbia, Maryland, and Chris Ingram of Zachary, Louisiana, and two step-children, Claude (Woody) Lively of Bogalusa, and Terri Lively of Mandeville, a granddaughter, Christy Andra of Zachary, Louisiana, and two grandsons, Cole Ingram of New York City, New York, and Kyle Ingram, of Baton Rouge, two great grandchildren, Jared and Morgan Andra of Zachary, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children who loved him dearly. One of the highlights of the year was for John to serve as patriarch while the family gathered at the Ingram Pavilion in Cassidy Park every Easter for a large potluck dinner and Easter egg hunt involving multiple generations of the family. John will be remembered as a faithful husband and father with an enriching and enduring love of his family, community, and country. Having spent many years associated with Woodyard Hunting Club, he was also an avid outdoorsman with great respect for all God's wonderful natural creations. Services will be held at the Brown-McGehee Funeral Home with visitation on Saturday, March 2, from 6-10 p.m. Visitation will continue on Sunday, March 3, from 11 a.m. until the funeral service at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at the Hillview Memorial Garden on Spring Valley Road with military rites conducted by Magic City Post #24 of the American Legion.