Dennis Wendell Ingram, 93, passed away May 19, 2010, at St. Vincent''s East Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama after a brief illness. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm, Friday, May 21st, at Elkins Funeral Home, 1535 Hermitage Drive, Florence, Alabama. The funeral will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 22nd, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1520 Rickwood Road, Florence, with Rev. John J. McKell officiating. Interment will follow at Greenview Memorial Park, 3657 Old Chisholm Road, Florence. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Ingram was a native of Ashland, Alabama, and attended Howard College (now Samford University), in Birmingham where he starred on the varsity basketball team and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was a decorated military veteran, having served with great distinction as an aviator in the U.S. Navy from 1941-1950. His military career included service in the European and Asian Theaters during World War II, and over one hundred flights as part of the Berlin Airlift that brought relief to two million residents of Berlin after the war. Mr. Ingram retired from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Following his military service and additional studies at Tulane University and the University of Tennessee, Mr. Ingram worked at Reynolds Metals Company headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, where he met and married his loving wife, Jeannette. Mr. Ingram, his wife, and their young son later moved to Florence where he continued his career with Reynolds Metals as a transportation analyst. In 1971, Mr. Ingram was elected by his peers in the transportation industry to serve as president of the North Alabama Traffic Club. After his retirement in 1981, Mr. Ingram and his wife continued to enjoy traveling and golf. Mr. Ingram and his wife were long-standing active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Ingram received a great deal of enjoyment from his family, his church, golf, reading novels, and following Atlanta Braves baseball. He was a quiet but loving husband, father, and grandfather, and he possessed a remarkable inner strength that never faded. He was a hero to his son. In 2009, Mr. Ingram moved to the Birmingham area to be closer to his family. His greatest delights were his son, James, and grandson, Jay.
Mr. Ingram was predeceased by his wife, Jeannette, his parents, Rev. James L. and Cordelia Garrett Ingram, and his two brothers, James C. Ingram and Herman L. Ingram. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, James Dennis and Laurie Ingram, Birmingham, his grandson, James Dennis Ingram, Jr., Auburn, and six loving nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Sunrise Ridge Assisted Living Facility in Trussville, Alabama, and to the doctors and staff of St. Vincent''s East Hospital, especially the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, for their care and compassion during Mr. Ingram''s illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Mr. Ingram''s memory to the Westminster Presbyterian Memorial Fund, 1520 Rickwood Road, Florence, Alabama 35630.