C. Robert Ingram

C. Robert Ingram, 92, passed away peacefully in Albany, NY on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Bob was born in Abilene, Texas into a family of 7 children, but most of his young life was spent in Dallas. He attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, where he found a love of acting and football (Go Cowboys!) and where he subsequently taught English and Latin for a few years. He met the love of his life, Elaine, at Buffalo State and the two married and taught school for a year on Clark Air Force base in Manila, Philippines. They moved to Long Island, NY, to raise 5 children.

Bob taught in the Smithtown School district for over 25 years as an English teacher and director of many musicals and plays. He acted in several plays in community theaters, in particular as Willy Loman in The Death of a Salesman. He loved poetry and often recited poems or told Arthurian legends instead of bedtime stories to his children. He was active in the parish of Sts. Philip and James where he was a lector.

He is remembered in the neighborhood as the dad who took many of the kids to the beach or Six Flags, and he is also fondly remembered by his many nieces and nephews for his fatherlike support. His weekend breakfast of grits and eggs or delicious French toast were not to be missed. During summer breaks, he packed his family into a green station wagon with a handmade green suitcase box on the roof and took them to visit all of the 48 contiguous US states and many of the National Parks while teaching them about the beauty in the world and its diverse people.

Bob and Elaine retired to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia in 1990 where he spent 25 years entertaining family, teaching all his grandchildren to fish and making new friends with his seemingly endless energy. Bob and Elaine volunteered at the local schools' reading programs and Meals on Wheels. He was very active at Resurrection RC Church as well as joining a community choir and holding office in the local Ruritan club. He grew a fig tree and taught himself how to make delicious fig jam which he shared with many people. He and Elaine also found time to travel the world, to Sicily, China, Perú, and the Holy Lands to name a few.

Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine Marie (Robinson) Ingram, his 5 children and their families: María Ingram, Robert (Carrie) Ingram, Michael (Marleen) Ingram, Tracie (Christopher) Lane, and Ted (Sylvia) Ingram, as well as 11 grandchildren: Alexandra, Alaina, Annalise, Madison, Mikayla, Peyton, Adam, Jason, Aaron, Kevin and Jenny, 2 great-grandchildren: Isla and Robin, and his brother Forrest Ingram in Chicago.

Bob will be forever remembered for his kindness, his great sense of humor, his love of family and God, and his never-ending quest for new experiences. He loved meeting new people; no one was a stranger to him. He was a wonderful husband, father and human being.

Services will be held at Resurrection RC Church in Moneta, VA, at a date still to be determined.

To share a memory of Bob or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.