WALTRAUD INGRAM

WALTRAUD INGRAM 05/27/1932 - 07/27/2025 Waltraud (Emrich) Ingram, known by most as "Grammy" or "Wally", 93, of Killeen, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 27, 2025. She was born in Germany on May 27, 1932, to Bernhard and Maria Emrich and lived there until 1957 when she married Jimmie D. Ingram of Bartlett, Texas, while he served there in the U.S. Army. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, and a baby sister. She is survived by her son Bernd Ingram of Basehor; daughter Marita Montanye of Killeen, Texas; four grandchildren, April Nesslein, Lauren Ingram, Jennifer Zellmar, and Collin Ingram; and four great-grandchildren, Mayson, Delilah, Ty, and Cadence. Waltraud completed her schooling and became a secretary at an engineering firm supporting U.S. military construction at Baumholder, Germany, and over the years worked in secretarial positions in various locations including her most responsible position as the secretary and headquarters translator to the 3rd Infantry Division Chief of Staff, Wuerzburg, Germany. For nearly 30 years, including two of her husband's deployments to combat in Viet Nam. Waltraud raised two children and supported her husband's career as a homemaker, Army spouse, and Non-commissioned Officer's spouse in unit support groups. For a time, she served as a German language Head Start instructor at Fort Hood, Texas, and volunteered as a Fort Hood thrift shop employee, treasurer, and president. She also served many years as a retiree liaison on the Darnall Army Hospital Advisory Board. Her military travels took her to Italy, Turkey, Thailand, Germany, and various locations in the United States. In 1974, as the only child, Waltraud became a full-time caregiver to her two parents, who came from Germany to resettle in the United States for health reasons. In 1988 she also became a full-time in-home caregiver to her husband after successive disabling strokes. With little time for hobbies, Waltraud's best efforts were spent as a caregiver, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a wonderful cook, often entertaining during her husband's career, and providing amazing dishes and baked goods to family and friends alike. If you attended a meal at her home, it's unlikely you left hungry and without something to take home with you. The more time she spent in America, the more she learned and liked American football, and became a great Dallas Cowboys fan. Her greatest pride and joy could be found in her family. Her greatest wish was that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren could grow up happy, healthy, and enjoying the many opportunities and the wonders of what became her adopted country. Citizenship and her ability to vote were her greatest personal achievements. She loved America to the end, while remaining proud of her European roots. Since her husband's passing in 2012, she traveled, and when possible spent time with her great-grandchildren. In 2014, she immediately came to help in the last days of her daughter-in-law Kathy (Sammons) Ingram's life and was deeply saddened by her passing and the sudden passing of son-in-law Monte Montanye in 2023. Her immediate family and her extended families in Texas and in Germany were both blessed to have her in their lives and blessed her with the greatest love and acceptance. To all who loved and laughed with her, she says "Auf Wiedersehen"! Waltraud will be laid to rest next to her husband and parents at Killeen Municipal Cemetery, in Texas, on a date as yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate), or the Dementia Society of America (www.dementiasociety.org/donate). R.L. Leintz Funeral Home of Leavenworth, and Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Killeen, are assisting the family in her final needs.