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McCarthy Funeral Homes - Greenfield

36 Bank Row

Greenfield, Massachusetts

Merle Ingraham Obituary

AUBURN - Dr. Merle R. Ingraham, 88, a resident of 84 Pakachoag Village and native son of Greenfield, died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence, Worcester, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Greenfield on Sept. 10, 1924, he was the son of Raymond C. Ingraham and Blanche (Newcomb) Ingraham. He graduated from Greenfield High School, Class of 1942, and entered Massachusetts State College. His education was temporarily interrupted by service during WWII in the U.S. Army, which later sent him into a pre-medical course of study at Princeton University from 1943-1945. From 1945-1949, he attended New York Medical College and served an internship in psychiatry at Worcester City Hospital from 1949-1951 and Worcester State Hospital from 1964-1965. Later, he received specialized training in psychiatry at Ft. Sam Houston and served a second tour in the Army in Germany, attaining the commission rank of 1st Lieutenant, under the Army's specialized training program. He returned to Greenfield in late 1952 following his discharge from military service.
Dr. Ingraham continued his studies in psychiatry in special courses at the Hartford Institute of Living from 1965-1967 and at the Veterans Hospital in Leeds. He served in the general practice of medicine in Greenfield from 1953-1964 and in the private practice of psychiatry from 1967-1983. He was Chief of Staff at the former Franklin County Public Hospital from 1976-1978. He also founded and served as the clinical director of the Franklin County Mental Health Clinic from 1969-1979. While at FMC, he delivered over 1,000 infants.
Dr. Ingraham was an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, serving as a geropsychiatrist from 1979-1988. He published many articles throughout his medical career. He resided in Greenfield for over 50 years and also settled in the Petersham and Auburn, areas.
Other interests included traveling to the Caribbean, Germany and Ireland, as well as gardening, painting (using oils and pastels as his mediums), photography and philately. In earlier years, Dr. Ingraham enjoyed participation in the Mohawk Male Chorus.
He leaves his loving wife, the former Helen A. Doyle, as well as his daughters: Jaimye S. Ingraham, her former husband David P. Adie, and their children: Devon R. and Aurie A. Ingraham-Adie; Merlene J. Ingraham and her husband, Kevin Brandt, and Colleen R. Letourneau and her husband, Craig A. Letourneau, and her son, Christopher R. Ingraham Pappademas. Additionally, Merle is survived by his devoted sister, Eleanor B. Weeks, wife of the late Wilder Leon Weeks. He is remembered with great affection by several nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as extended loving members of the Chesney, Doyle, Newcomb and Weeks families.
Services, in celebration of his life, will be observed on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at the First Congregational Church, 43 Silver St., Greenfield, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Stacey Kullgren Gershwin, pastor, to officiate. Rites of committal and burial will follow in Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, with full military honors to be provided by the 54th Massachusetts Army National Guard, assisted by members of the Hale-Clapp VFW Post 3295 of South Deerfield. A reception will follow the committal services at the cemetery in the fellowship hall of the First Congregational Church.
Visiting hours will be conducted on Friday evening at the McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA from 4 to 7.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and that expressions of affection in the form of charitable contributions be directed to the Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence, 1183 Main St., Worcester, MA 01603 to honor Dr. Ingraham's memory.
The McCarthy Funeral Homes of Greenfield and Turners Falls have been entrusted with the arrangements. Guest book and condolence message available at: www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com.

Published by The Recorder on Dec. 20, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
for Merle Ingraham

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Dear Colleen & Family,
So sorry to have just found out about the loss of your dad. I have such great memories of the years when we were fortunate enough to have him as our psychiatrist at Quabbin Valley. Know that I am here for you if you need anything at all!

Jaonne Wheeler

December 28, 2012

Dr. Ingraham was our family physician and delivered our last child Jane.He was very kind and caring.
We express our sympathy to his family
God Bless

Barbara (Benjamin) Walters

December 22, 2012

Jaimye and family,
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you.

Janis Peters

December 22, 2012

Jaimye, sincere thoughts and prayers are with you and your family today! Sue Pekenia Gates

December 22, 2012

Dear Helen,
I am sorry for your loss. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as he is now at peace and with his God.

Kathleen Livingstone SSJ

December 21, 2012

To the Ingraham family,

I was Merle's administrator in Geriatrics at UMASS back in the 80's. What a wonderful man to have worked for and what a wonderful friend.

Cheryl

December 20, 2012

It was an honor to help care for Merle in his final days. Thank you for letting us share in his journey. Thought and prayers are with family.

Holy Trinity Hospice

December 19, 2012

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McCarthy Funeral Homes - Greenfield

36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA 01301

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