Herndon Inge Jr.

March 4, 1920 - December 17, 2014 Herndon Inge, Jr ("Wank") age 94, a well respected and distinguished Mobile attorney and judge, WW II veteran member of the Greatest Generation, died peacefully December 17, 2014. Inge was a wise counselor, principled, irreproachable, and a bright light who touched countless people from all walks of life during his career. He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Erwin Inge and Herndon Inge, Sr.; his wife of 49 years and mother of his three sons, Eleanor Unger Inge; his sisters, Imogen and Molly; and three brothers, Zeb, Sam and John. He is survived by his beloved wife, Alice Williams Inge, three sons, David U. Inge (Katherine KD Wright), Herndon Inge, III (Amanda Hunter), and George B. Inge (Jane Carter); and his brother, Coleman (Jean) Also eight grandchildren; Katherine Hinson (Alex); Richard Inge (Ann); David Inge (Mindy); Eleanor Baker (Stephen) Elizabeth Ridgdell (Josh); Virginia Inge; Edward Inge (Marisa) and Caroline McDonald (Will) and 12 great grandchildren. Inge was born on March 4, 1920 in Chickasaw, Alabama the third of seven children. During the Great Depression, he dropped out of Murphy High School to help support his famiy. He returned to his education later and worked his way through Spring Hill College and the Universtity of Alabama majoring in commerce and business administration. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. During World War II he was an Infantry lieutenant and platoon leader in the 94th Infantry Division in General George Patton's famous Third Army and participated in the Normandy, Brittany, Andennes, and Central Europe campaigns. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and spent three months as a German prisoner of War. Inge was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. After World War II he completed his education at the University of Alabama Law School. He returned to Mobile and was appointed Juvenile Court Judge, a position he held for 17 years. He was later elected circuit court judge in domestic relations and was president of the Young Lawyers and the Mobile Bar Association. Inge founded the legal aid program in Mobile County and was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the Youth Crime Commission and appointed by Gov. George Wallace to Alabama State Library Board where he served as chairman. Inge retired from the bench after practicing law until he was 88 years old. In 2009 he was awarded supernumerary judge in Mobile County. He wrote a book, ORSCHOLZ BARRIER, his account of his experiences in World War II, written in the 1950's but not published until 2013. In 2007 he was celebrated in the highly acclaimed Ken Burns WW II documentary also honoring other heros from Mobile. Inge was a member of numerous civic clubs, and several mystic societies, and a long time member of St. Paul' s Episcopal Church. We are so grateful for the love and devotion of his caregivers, Mary Gray, Sharoka Stadmire, and Blanche Taylor. Inge was a model father and had a very strong work ethic that he imparted to his three sons. Yet, above all of his professional, personal, and civic accomplishments, Inge was the most proud of his three boys and the men they have become. Known as, "Granddad" to his grand and great-grand children he was our beloved patriarch and a man of exemplary character. He was a born optimist, always positive and soft spoken with a smile on his face. He brought joy to each of us through the years by his kindness, sweetness and very gentle nature. Our whole extended family is so grateful for his life, for his service to our country, and for his life long example of honesty, fair-mindedness, humility and graciousness. While his physical presence will be greatly missed, he leaves for all of us an incredibly honorable legacy. He was our hero. For more information about Inge visit his web site herndoningejr.com A visitation will be at 10 AM in St. Paul's Episcopal Parish Hall followed by a Memorial service at 11:30 AM, Saturday December 20, 2014. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church 4051 Old Shell Road Mobile, AL 36608 or the charity of your choice.