James M. Ingram Jr.

James Maurice Ingram, Jr. (Jim), 94, passed away on August 4, 2026, surrounded by his family. Jim Ingram was born in Bowling Green, KY, the only child of the late James Maurice Ingram, Sr., and Ruby Lee Stephens Ingram (“Bunny”). He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Ellen Stahl Ingram, his four sons, James Maurice Ingram, III (Mary Jane Scholz) of Palm City, FL, John McGee Ingram (Margaret Alagia) of Bethesda, MD, Timothy Michael Ingram (Linda Ehrenberg) of Clearwater, FL, and Stephen Patrick Ingram (Nancy Pikaart) of Charlottesville, VA; he also leaves to cherish his memory 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Jim Ingram lived his faith and loved his family and country.

Jim Ingram grew up in Louisville, KY, and attended St. Xavier Catholic High School where he graduated with high honors and excelled in swimming, basketball, and tennis. During his high school years, he also worked with his father in his architecture practice where he learned critical skills in drafting and design. In his free time, he studied classical piano. He earned a Navy ROTC scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, his father’s alma mater, where he received a Bachelor of Architecture, and played basketball and tennis. While at Notre Dame, he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Stahl, of Madison, SD, who was attending St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame. Jim was introduced to Mary by her older brother, Tom Stahl, a fellow architecture student. Mary later told her parents that she was in love with Jim Ingram, that he was the most charismatic person she had ever met, had a wonderful sense of humor, was the life of the party — could sing, dance and play the piano, and that she could not imagine spending the rest of her life without him. After graduation, Jim was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, he married Mary Stahl, moved to Camp Lejeune, NC, and later Washington, DC, where he achieved the rank of Captain. Jim loved the Corps, and loved being a Marine.

After serving his country, Jim Ingram returned home to Louisville to practice architecture with his father; and after a few years moved with his family to Minneapolis, MN, to practice architecture with his brother-in-law, Tom Stahl. Looking for more significant work, he moved to Omaha, NE to join Leo A. Daly, a mid-west architecture firm, where for most of his 40-year career he worked six days a week. Promoted to executive vice president, he managed the firm’s home office while being heavily engaged in regional office operations. Jim was a talented and highly skilled architect, an exemplary business leader, a gifted writer and speaker, and a consummate professional. His efforts in support of the firm significantly expanded its reach ultimately helping it to grow into what is now one of the top 40 architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design firms in the world. He was an expert in design and planning of large medical training facilities, including Creighton University Medical Center and Boys Town National Research Hospital, in Omaha, NE; the United States Army Hospital - U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda Naval Hospital), Bethesda, MD. He worked on projects all over the world, including in the Middle East, and Asia.

Jim was active in the Omaha community, having served for years as a member of the District 66 School Board, as an advisor to the Omaha City Planning Commission to revitalize downtown Omaha, and as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at the the Parish of Christ the King Catholic Church. Like his father, he was a voracious reader and it was not uncommon for him to read several books a week. He was a student of history — world history, religion, and architecture; he had a keen interest in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Western Frontier. He loved American literature.

Above all, Jim Ingram was deeply religious, humble, and a devoted husband and family man. Although serious, confident, and highly competitive, he had a wonderful sense of humor — which attracted people to him. Mary often said how fortunate she was to have been married to someone who made her laugh her entire life, which kept her happy, young, and alive. He was truly her best friend and the love of her life. He loved playing the piano, tickling the ivory for family and friends — and he had lots of friends!

Jim Ingram truly lived a full and virtuous life. He understood very well the meaning of love as described by the Apostle Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians — that without love, we are nothing; that love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things; and that love never fails. Jim Ingram’s love for his family never failed, and he will be forever loved by his family.

Jim Ingram has always known that it is the “Holy Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.” Now he has been called by the Holy Spirit to come home. He has, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “competed well; finished the race; kept the faith.” Well done, faithful servant of Christ. He makes all things new!

Please join us on Friday, August 21st for a 1:30pm Funeral Mass at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor, Florida, immediately followed by inurnment with Honors at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, Florida. We will then enjoy a Celebration of Jim's Life together, across the street at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home.

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