James Diehl Ingram, 87, of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of East Washington, Pa., died Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in hospice care in Cincinnati, after being in declining health since last fall.
He was born Aug. 29, 1938, in Belleville, Ill., a son of the Rev. James V. Ingram and Virginia M. (Diehl) Ingram.
He attended Alliance (Ohio) High School, Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Va., and Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where he majored in political science. Jim also attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., where he studied sheltered workshop administration.
He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving from September 1961 to July 1964, with much of that time spent on active duty at Fort Richardson in Alaska. He was in Anchorage in March 1964 when a magnitude 9.2 earthquake, the most powerful ever recorded in North America, struck that area, and he assisted in recovery efforts.
In November 1965, he married Frances Miller Ingram, later the director of Children's School of Washington, who survives.
In the mid-1970s, after working for Massillon State Hospital in Ohio, he moved with his young family to Washington, Pa., where he took a position with Arc of Pennsylvania. He later worked for Star Dynamics before becoming the public works director in East Washington Borough, where he also served as a councilman. Jim retired from the borough in July 2005 and moved with Fran to Cincinnati to be close to their grandchildren. In retirement, he worked part time for the Great Parks of Hamilton County, a position he retained until last year.
Jim was well-known in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio as a sports official. He officiated PIAA football, ASA softball, PONY baseball, Tri-State college football and ran the clock for football games at Thomas More University in northern Kentucky.
He also was very well regarded in music circles, playing the upright bass with the Beau Street Players and in Washington Community Theater productions for many years. He was a longtime member of the Washington High School Band Boosters and a supporter of the school's theater program. While living in Ohio, he donated his time and talents to Winton Woods School District, where his grandchildren attended.
Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church, 1793, of Washington, where he served on session and as an elder, and was a longtime member of the choir.
For a number of years, Jim hosted a jazz program, "Jammin' with Jim," on radio station WMKV in Cincinnati. He had a near-encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and big-band music.
Jim was known for his gregarious, warmhearted nature. He truly never met a stranger and always offered his help to those who needed it. He loved to converse with friends and family, and had a well-earned reputation for storytelling.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his son and daughter-in-law, Chris Ingram and Naomi Goertz of Cincinnati; his daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Brant Newman of Avella, Pa.; four grandchildren, Kate and Nix Ingram, and Gina and Ethan Newman; his brother, Dennis (Lois) Ingram of Akron, Ohio; brother-in-law John (Nicolette) Miller of Fayetteville, N.C.; his cousin, Claudia Clawson of Mandeville, La.; and many nieces and nephews.
Also feeling his loss is his beloved dog, Lucy.
As per Jim's wishes, there will be no services. He donated his body to the Body Donation Program at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine.
Those wishing to make donations in Jim's memory can do so to Washington Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 851, Washington, PA 15301, or Winton Woods Performing Arts Boosters, c/o Dani Ashbrook, director of bands, 1231 W. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240. Please write "Jim Ingram memorial" in the memo line.
Cards of condolence may be sent to Frances Ingram, 11130 Springfield Pike, B. 128, Cincinnati, OH 45246.
He was born Aug. 29, 1938, in Belleville, Ill., a son of the Rev. James V. Ingram and Virginia M. (Diehl) Ingram.
He attended Alliance (Ohio) High School, Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Va., and Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where he majored in political science. Jim also attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., where he studied sheltered workshop administration.
He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving from September 1961 to July 1964, with much of that time spent on active duty at Fort Richardson in Alaska. He was in Anchorage in March 1964 when a magnitude 9.2 earthquake, the most powerful ever recorded in North America, struck that area, and he assisted in recovery efforts.
In November 1965, he married Frances Miller Ingram, later the director of Children's School of Washington, who survives.
In the mid-1970s, after working for Massillon State Hospital in Ohio, he moved with his young family to Washington, Pa., where he took a position with Arc of Pennsylvania. He later worked for Star Dynamics before becoming the public works director in East Washington Borough, where he also served as a councilman. Jim retired from the borough in July 2005 and moved with Fran to Cincinnati to be close to their grandchildren. In retirement, he worked part time for the Great Parks of Hamilton County, a position he retained until last year.
Jim was well-known in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio as a sports official. He officiated PIAA football, ASA softball, PONY baseball, Tri-State college football and ran the clock for football games at Thomas More University in northern Kentucky.
He also was very well regarded in music circles, playing the upright bass with the Beau Street Players and in Washington Community Theater productions for many years. He was a longtime member of the Washington High School Band Boosters and a supporter of the school's theater program. While living in Ohio, he donated his time and talents to Winton Woods School District, where his grandchildren attended.
Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church, 1793, of Washington, where he served on session and as an elder, and was a longtime member of the choir.
For a number of years, Jim hosted a jazz program, "Jammin' with Jim," on radio station WMKV in Cincinnati. He had a near-encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and big-band music.
Jim was known for his gregarious, warmhearted nature. He truly never met a stranger and always offered his help to those who needed it. He loved to converse with friends and family, and had a well-earned reputation for storytelling.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his son and daughter-in-law, Chris Ingram and Naomi Goertz of Cincinnati; his daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Brant Newman of Avella, Pa.; four grandchildren, Kate and Nix Ingram, and Gina and Ethan Newman; his brother, Dennis (Lois) Ingram of Akron, Ohio; brother-in-law John (Nicolette) Miller of Fayetteville, N.C.; his cousin, Claudia Clawson of Mandeville, La.; and many nieces and nephews.
Also feeling his loss is his beloved dog, Lucy.
As per Jim's wishes, there will be no services. He donated his body to the Body Donation Program at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine.
Those wishing to make donations in Jim's memory can do so to Washington Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 851, Washington, PA 15301, or Winton Woods Performing Arts Boosters, c/o Dani Ashbrook, director of bands, 1231 W. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240. Please write "Jim Ingram memorial" in the memo line.
Cards of condolence may be sent to Frances Ingram, 11130 Springfield Pike, B. 128, Cincinnati, OH 45246.
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