William Ingram

William "Bill" Ingram was born on May 11, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Leonard and Cora Ingram. Shortly after World War II, the family moved to Long Beach, California where he attended Jordan High School and graduated in 1950. Bill earned a scholarship to USC and graduated with a BS degree. He also earned a postgraduate Master's degree at Long Beach State College. Ater graduating from USC, Bill served our country in the US Navy as a Lieutenant JG.

Bill was the star running back of the Jordan High School football team and was dating the Jordan Homecoming Queen and Snowflake Queen, Joyce Corona, whom he had met in 1945 at Lindbergh Junior High School. Bill and Joyce married in 1952, raised two sons, Wayne and Dave, and were married for 59 years until her passing in 2012. From the age of 32, when Joyce was stricken with a malady of her spinal cord, Bill served as her care giver and encourager for a total of 48 years.

Bill had many careers: He coached sports and taught driver training for many years at Warren High School in Downey, then transferred to a hospital school in Downey where he taught physical education to disabled children. After he retired from teaching, he became a real estate agent and broker, and finally retired for good in his mid-80s.

He and Joyce gave their lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ in 1956 and began faithfully serving at North Long Beach Brethren Church. Every morning, Bill could be found beginning his day by kneeling on the floor in front of his favorite easy chair, praying for his family, and listening to Thru the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee.

At the age of 81, he married Jean Summers (also a Snowflake Queen in high school), whom he had known from church for over 50 years. During their eleven years of marriage, Bill and Jean enjoyed traveling and spending time with both of their families and friends.