Carole Elaine Ingroum

Carole Elaine Ingroum, 91, entered into rest on September 2, 2026. Born December 6, 1934, Carole was a cherished and beloved presence whose steady faith, strength, and thoughtful wisdom shaped her family and all who had the privilege to know her.

Carole grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where church and family formed the center of her life until she was 12 years old. The imprint of World War II on her childhood stayed with her, influencing how she viewed life in the years that followed. In her adolescent years, she found joy in sports—tennis, basketball, and softball—an early love encouraged by her father’s work as a referee. She also embraced music and learning: she played in the band, pep band, and symphonette, sang in the Glee Club, and regularly earned a place on the Honor Roll!

On June 24, 1951, in Iola, Kansas, Carole married Barney Ingroum at just 16½ years old. She began her family early, and from that point forward, her devotion to those she loved remained the guiding focus of her life. Between October 1952 and December 1957, she welcomed four children, and in 1963 Traci was born, completing their family of five children.

Carole and Barney traveled the pipeline from Texas to Washington State before settling in Washington for 17 years. There, they pastored multiple churches and served as circuit evangelists in the Northwest, raising their children while including them in ministry, a family known for musical talent. Carole’s faithful service also included fulfilling a long-held ministerial calling: she became ordained in the Assemblies of God in Arizona and served as the Women’s Director for the state of Arizona from 1984 to 1989—one of her proudest achievements in a life marked by purpose and perseverance. In addition, she served as a Director for Canyon View Medical Center for over 20 years, retiring in the early 2000s.

A generous spirit and a welcoming home were among Carole’s enduring gifts. She loved entertaining and hosting friends and family for New Year’s parties, graduations, weddings, and more. Gatherings were always made warmer by her care and attention to others. She delighted in sports, especially the Phoenix Suns, holding season tickets for four years, and she loved March Madness or nearly any sporting event. Music remained a lifelong companion: she played the piano, led music at a variety of churches, and also enjoyed travel.

Above all, Carole’s most treasured interest was her family. To her children, she was known simply and proudly as “MOM,” a devoted mother whose love was constant. She was blessed with 16 grandchildren whom she prayed for regularly, spoiled as much as possible, and cherished through every call, text, Facetime, and note—always a faithful and loving “GRAMS.” And then came 20 great-grandchildren, each one a new wellspring of joy; to the “greats,” she was “NANA,” and their lives brought her a happiness that only deepened with each passing generation.

Carole leaves a ripple effect on generations and beyond. Her legacy is not a word lightly applied; it is a lived inheritance of spiritual heritage, love of family, and a modeled love for Jesus that cannot be replaced. A recent Mother’s Day offered a glimpse of that enduring impact, when she received more than 35 texts, calls, and videos from family expressing gratitude for the legacy she had built. Generous with her time, wise with her resources, and careful with words that carried weight, Carole will be remembered as a beloved, devoted, and resilient woman whose life was faithfully poured out for others.

A big thank you to Lafayette (son-in-law) and Francette Coleman (daughter) for caring, loving, and spending time with Carole, during her recent season in life. They would say that they were blessed by this time, and that would be true, but there is no question that Carole was blessed by their life and generosity during this time. Thank You!

Some final words from one of her "Grands" that sums up their Nana:

Among all of my colorful family members, the most inspirational by far is my great-grandmother, whom we endearingly call Nana. At the age of ninety-one, she has experienced life, sorrow, joy, and turmoil to a degree which I cannot even begin to fathom. Yet it is her character, not her circumstances, that strikes me as her most beautiful quality.

When my Nana comes to visit, she spends her time settled in an old recliner in our living room, talking with us for hours about her life and what the Lord has taught her. We are all astonished at the hardship she has encountered, from losing her husband and two of her children, to watching several of her posterity reject the Lord. However, what amazes me most is the manner in which she still carries herself. She is never bitter, never angry, never slandering, never haughty; rather, she is humble, generous, forgiving, and content with the life she still has.

My Nana is beyond a remarkable woman; she is the glue of our family that holds us to one another and to the Lord. It is because of her that I can know my grandmother Louanne, who died before I was born; it is because of her that I have learned to consider trials with joy, finding strength in faith rather than despair; and it is because of her that I can see the Lord so clearly orchestrating our lives for His good, because she is a living testament of His goodness. Every time I speak with her, she challenges me to refocus my perspective on Christ and to give more than what I have. I pray to the Lord that if I live to be ninety years old, I will still be streaming my great-grandchildren’s sporting events, sending messages to encourage those going through trials, and reading my extra-large print Bible devotional every morning. I pray that I may be, if only in part, like my Nana.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 North 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, on September 21, 2026, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, with burial to follow at West Resthaven Cemetery, 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301 at 2:00pm.