Carlos Otto Ingram

With great disbelief, we have to announce the passing of Carlos Otto Ingram, who leaves behind the lasting legacy of beloved Father, Papa, Papa Great, Brother, & Uncle. He was a leader of men who was led by God.

Please raise your glasses with us in a champagne toast. In our grief, we choose to celebrate his reunion with his great love, Darlene. The way he loved her showed us the way we should be loved.

He lived his life ethically and with the conviction of his beliefs, but with an open heart, accepting of everyone and free from judgment. He grew his whole life, always learning and doing better when he could. He was a man of distinguished accomplishments yet deep humility and grace. However, it will always be suspect that he never lost at a game of Sorry in over 50 years.

His career was astonishing, from Stock Boy to Vice President of Business Systems, and his sense of humor summed up that achievement when he announced to the world that he was “born to be the VP of BS, but if they really knew what was up they would have made me the P!”

Known for snagging the restaurant bill for any occasion from anyone he could, he was equally generous with his time, understanding, and forgiveness. He was a great caretaker, never tiring of helping those he loved when he could. In fact, he said being able to take care of so many is why he worked as hard as he did and being the go-to guy was the man he wanted to be.

Also, known for freely sharing his opinions and advice, he wasn’t ALWAYS right, but we have to admit…he ALMOST always was. If everyone just did what I said, everything would be perfect. Listen to your Nana, keep the beer cold, tip well, always keep the candy dish full, don’t let them promote you til you can’t do your job, don’t put your eye out, take the test, and if life gives you lemons, drink Chivas.

He would like to be remembered for making you laugh even if he was ornery about it, showing up with Coney Island (he only forgot Darlene’s chicken once), Taco Tuesday, Beer:30, a cold beer on the back of your neck, questionable euchre technique, the cowboy emoji and his great love of exactly who you are.

His best lesson was in nothing he tried to teach us but how he sacrificed for those he loved.

He’s survived by: Three children, Anita Ingram-Frantz (Joe), Fort Wayne, Indiana; Jeffery W. Ingram (Kristin), Melbourne, Florida; and Jennie Ingram (Patrick), St. Joseph, Mo.; 8 grandchildren, Adrian Sewell (Lou), Kailin Bauman (Bill), Conner Sewell, Aidan Ingram, Tessa Yenna (Jay), Lily Massaro, Laila Massaro, and Erik Ingram; 5 great-grandchildren, Killian, Logan and Valencia Sewell, Weston Sewell and Jaxxon Yenna, a brother, Larry Ingram (Peggy), Columbia, MO, brother-in-law, Donald Conrad, sisters-in-Law Helen and Carol Ingram, Mary Brown (Marv), Collen Spore and Marilyn Allen and many, many much-loved nephews and nieces.

A celebration of life gathering for Carlos will be on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46809. Burial will take place in St. John Lutheran Cemetery.