Homer Wayne Ingram

Homer Wayne “Wayne” Ingram, 97, of Temple, Texas, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025. He was born on May 17, 1928, in Paris, Texas, to parents Walter Hubert Ingram and Clara Mae Saylors Ingram, who instilled in him the values of hard work, kindness, and integrity that guided him throughout his life. Faith in Jesus as the Christ came later, as a result of some searching during a midlife bout with the mumps.

Wayne was the youngest of the four Ingram boys, joining his older brothers John Thomas Ingram, Billy Joe “Dutch” Ingram, and Lewis VanDyke Ingram. (There were some great men’s names in this family!) Wayne graduated from Paris High School (Class of 1945) and Paris Junior College (Class of 1947). He loved baseball and decided to pursue a professional baseball career. He played minor league baseball for three seasons (1947-1949) for the St. Louis Browns and New York Yankees organizations.

Wayne hung up his spikes and decided to follow in his father’s and three brothers' footsteps by serving his country in the military (Wayne chose the United States Navy). The Navy, however, decided to put his athletic skills to use and assigned him to one of their baseball travel teams. And so it was, with great reluctance, that he continued to play baseball—a lifelong passion—while serving his country. After his military service, Wayne attended the University of Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1958.

1958 was a good year for Wayne. In addition to graduating from UT, he also married the love of his life- Mary Nancey Lewis of Ft Worth on February 8, 1958. Together, they shared their lives for 67 years and raised three sons: Roger, Larry, and Raymond.

Wayne began his career in Austin with the Texas Board of Water Engineers. He left Texas in 1963 when he took a position with a startup organization (“Kordite”) in Jacksonville, Illinois. Kordite was later acquired by Mobil Chemical, and “Mobil” was an appropriate name for his employer since the family would cross the country several times and back again. Wayne and the family moved from Illinois to California, then to Chicago, then to Palmyra, New York, to Temple, TX, then back to New York, then back to Temple, back to New York, and finally back to Jacksonville, Illinois. Wayne decided this was a good time to retire before Mobil moved him again.

Wayne and Nancey returned to Temple for the fourth and final time after retiring in 1990. A lifelong baseball lover, Wayne also enjoyed countless (yes, take that literally) hours on the golf course, where his love of the game matched his appreciation for fellowship and the outdoors. He was an active member of Wildflower Country Club and a deacon at Temple Bible Church, and later of Gideons International, faithfully sharing God’s Word and serving his community with humility and grace. Wayne cherished his faith, family, and friendships deeply. His quiet strength, ready laugh, steady faith, and gentle humor left a lasting mark on all who knew him. He played golf into his 90’s but ultimately retired his cleats and clubs at the ripe old age of 93. He turned in his car when he turned 94. And everybody said “amen!”

Wayne is survived by his devoted wife, Nancey Ingram, and two sons, Roger Ingram and his wife Sharon, and Larry Ingram, as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved son Raymond Ingram (also on October 6, 2022), as well as his parents, his three brothers, and their wives.

His life reflected faithfulness—to God, to his family, and to the values of a bygone era anchored in integrity and hard work that he lived by each day. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at Temple Bible Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 20, 2025.