Ingeborg Martha Welther-Jones

On Sunday morning, February 23rd, 2025, Ingeborg Martha Henrietta Welther-Jones passed away at the age of 95 of natural causes.

Also known to many of her friends as “Inge,” Ingeborg was born in Greifswald, Germany on May 18, 1929, the first child of John and Greta (nee Lowi) Foerster.

Ingeborg was an accomplished amateur artist, beloved member of the church choir, excellent cookie baker, above-average golfer, and, in her younger years, a strong hiker and competitive bowler. Ingeborg and her family very much enjoyed their annual family vacations by car to Florida.

Ingeborg immigrated from Germany to the U.S. with her parents in 1938, at age 9, just before World War 2. When they fled, they left many family members behind. She and her parents sailed from Le Havre France on the French Line ocean liner S.S. De Grasse, arriving in New York City, and then traveled directly to join relatives in Chicago, IL. Ingeborg’s parents were actors and puppeteers, and, along with other family members, created a puppet opera that was featured at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The family moved to New York for the 1939 fair and Ingeborg attended PS122 School for a short time. In late 1939, she and her parents returned permanently to Chicago. Her only sibling, Thomas (Tom) Foerster, was born soon after their return to Chicago.

In Chicago, Ingeborg attended Lakeview High School. By then, she had mastered English without an accent, and was a very popular “All-American” girl whose many high school friends lasted her lifetime. At Lakeview, Ingeborg dated the star of the football team, Richard H. (Dick) Welther. “Dick and Inge” were married on July 1, 1950. They then lived briefly in Colorado while Dick was in the US Army, after which they moved back to Chicago where Dick was employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

In 1949, right out of high school, Ingeborg worked as an Administrative Assistant to the Union Pacific Railroad President. Because her bosses thought she looked like Jane Russell, they had her sit next to them in the Union Pacific parade car holding the Golden Spike. Inge later worked as a fashion model, and was featured in the Chicago Tribune newspaper. But she gladly left behind her promising modeling career to become a very devoted mother and homemaker, a role she loved. Dick and Inge had three children, Michael (born in 1952), Mark (1955), and Marcia (1958). Ingeborg often said that her children meant the world to her.

In 1959, the Welther family moved from Chicago to suburban Park Ridge, where they lived for eight years. In Park Ridge, Ingeborg was became President of the both Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) and Newcomers Club, and was also active in church. In 1967, Richard’s work took the family to the Milwaukee, WI suburb of Mequon. Ingeborg was active in Newcomers and Postscripts, and was also socially active with her large group of friends. The Welthers especially enjoyed going on multi-family camping trips every spring and fall to various parks in Wisconsin.

Since 1979, Ingeborg has lived in Peoria, AZ, where she moved to be near her brother Tom, his wife Louise, and their family. Inge’s parents then retired in 1980 to Sun City, AZ to be near their children and grandchildren.

Richard predeceased Ingeborg in 1985. On her own and with her children grown, Ingeborg went to work at Digital Equipment (1980 to 1991), Flagstaff Nissan in Flagstaff, AZ (1991 to 1993), and the Wigwam Golf Resort of Glendale, AZ (1993 to 2001).

She married Sam Jones in September 2000. Sam and Ingeborg enjoyed almost 25 years of companionship and travel. Sam and Inge were seasoned travelers to Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, and across the Atlantic. They loved their travels and the friends they met along the way.

Ingeborg was a devoted wife and proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her second husband Samuel Jones, and her three children Mike (Harriet) of Arlington, VT., Mark (Fari) of Clayton, CA, and Marcia (Danny) of San Diego, CA. Inge is also survived by her two grandchildren Emily Welther (Klaas Voigt) of Cologne, Germany and Carrie Reynolds (Brandon) of Fort Collins, CO, as well as four great-grandchildren Pella (17) and Lovi (13) Voigt and Silas (10) and Rhys (7) Reynolds. In addition, Inge is survived by Sam’s children Steven R. Jones, Shirley A. Roeckel, Sarah L. Henley, and Susan G. Tyson.

Ingeborg loved her life and her family, and did not let go of this life easily, fighting every day to get back to her routines and caring for her beloved Sam. She will be remembered as a loving and doting spouse, as a proud and devoted mother, and a loyal sister and friend. But, most of all, those who knew Inge will recall her as an ever-present, beautiful, creative, and passionate woman whose artistic side inspired and beautified the world for all of us.

The family wishes to recognize and appreciate the special care of her Ingeborg's brother Tom, sister-in-law Louise Scroggins, niece Kristin Colafranceschi, neighbors Lauren and Barbara Miller, step-relatives Steve Jones, Kathy Young, and Sarah Henley, and the staff of Montecito Senior Living

The family will be celebrating Ingeborg’s life at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 26th, 2025 at The Congregational Church of Sun City, 18401 N. 99th Avenue, Sun City, AZ. Donations in Ingeborg’s name can be made to the church. Please contact Mark Welther at (510) 459-1131 for details.