Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at West Main Baptist Church for lifelong Artesia resident Olen David Ingram.
Ingram, 69, went home Friday, Oct. 14, 2016.
Pastor Jason Kraft will officiate at the services. Cremation is under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Ingram, Zachary Ingram, Brody Fox, Josiah Ingram, James Brady, Dustin Brady, John Robison, Brad Larson, Daniel Tidwell, James Blevins, Lee Blevins, Jo Bert Wood, Billie Roach, Jorge Ramirez, Matt Brady, Scotty Martin, Bill Laman, Guy McArther, Marty Posey, Brett Barrett, Steve DeMerritt, Manuel Bustamante, Jim Devine, Raymond Jones, Billy Norman, Kevin Hartley, James Sevier, and all current and former members of the Artesia Fire Department and surrounding volunteer fire departments of Eddy County.
David was born Sept. 10, 1947, in Artesia New Mexico to Olen “Red” Wilburn Ingram and Ophelia “Faye” Bell (Stone) Ingram. He was raised in Artesia and attended Artesia Public Schools, graduating in 1965.
David enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 28, 1966. During boot camp, he received his official U.S. Military Draft Notice. He was a mechanic for the 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels” in Fort Hood, Texas. He was later transferred to Active Reserve on Oct. 27, 1969, and remained on active status until Oct. 27, 1972, when he received his Honorable Discharge with the ranking of SP5 (E5) during the Vietnam Era. David’s achievements during his service to his country included receiving his training on fuel, electrical, and repairing tanks stateside.
The paraphrase of his military division fit David to a tee, as he loved engines, fast cars and cherry trucks. David returned to Artesia after his service, where he began his career as a farm equipment mechanic for local farmers and progressed into working for Ernie Warren at Artesia Body Works. This was the one job he would always reminisce about with his family and talk about the adventures with his friend and boss, Ernie Warren.
In late 1969, he met his wife, Alberta Jane (Blevins) Ingram. They were married June 5, 1970, in Carlsbad. On April 21, 1971, he was honored with the birth of their daughter, Tamala Jean (Ingram) Robison, and again June 19, 1975, with the birth of his son, Michael Dean Ingram.
During the time of his growing family, he was employed by JN Hightower at Hightower Farm Service and Daniel Oilfield Services. In 1973, he began a 25-year career at Halliburton Energy Services, where he was a diesel mechanic and later would retire as the shop foreman. David always took great pride in providing for his family and children financially while making sure he was a loving, guiding, and teaching father to his children and his brothers and sisters.
After his retirement, he opened Dave’s Auto Repair and worked various jobs until his full retirement in 2010. He and his wife briefly moved to the Hugo and Antlers, Okla., area until 2013. They then returned to Artesia.
David also loved to volunteer his time with his friends. He was a member of the Artesia Elks Lodge 1717 and served as Exalted Ruler with the lodge. He also volunteered for Sun Country Volunteer Fire Department beginning May 16, 1989, for 15-and-a-half years.
David will always be known and remembered for his love for his family, friends, and extended family. He never met a stranger and loved spending time visiting, playing baseball, Frisbee, horseshoes, BBQs, fish fries, fishing on the banks of the Pecos River or Lake McMillan, or back in his parents’ hometown area of Antlers, Okla., hunting and camping. David was an avid gardener. He loved to have a beautiful lawn, trees, roses, and an annual garden of vegetables to provide for his family. David will dearly be missed by his 16-year-old companion Chihuahua Satin, who was always by his side.
Survivors include his wife, Alberta Jane (Blevins) Ingram, of the family home; son Michael D. Ingram and wife Franki of Artesia; daughter Tamala J. Robison and husband John R. of Artesia; siblings Phyllis Walters and husband Wayne of Eunice, Wayne Ingram and wife Denise of Roswell, Randy Ingram and wife Becky of Artesia, and Nancy Larson and husband Brad of Artesia; sister-in-law Sandra Tidwell and husband Daniel of Artesia; grandchildren James Brady, Dustin Brady, Zachary Ingram, Josiah Ingram, Brody Fox, Stevie Fox, BreAnna Good, Summer Good, Veronica Verdugo, Jacob Robison, Jayson Robison and Miranda Robison; nieces Nora Roberts, SueAnn Anderson, Debra Taylor, Kathy Walters and Diane Walters; nephews AJ McQuay, Casey Blakley and Wesley Blakley; great-nieces Morgan Norman, Brooke Norman, Julee Ryan, Eve Sanchez, Heather McDaniel and Britney Blevins; great-nephews JT Roberts and Dean Blevins; and additional and extended family members, including Linda Ezell, James “Buster” and Carolyn Blevins, Lee and Brenda Blevins, Billy and Katie Roach, and Jorge and Stormi Ramirez and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Olen Wilburn Ingram and Ophelia Bell Ingram; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins from the Antlers, Okla., area and Artesia; father-in-law and mother-in-law James William “Junior” Blevins and Bertha Lee (Strange) Blevins; and one great-niece.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the local Artesia Shop with a Hero.
Accounts have been established at Western Bank under the account number 0029518810 and online at www.gofundme.com/ingramfamilyfund2uesx38 to help defray the cost of funeral expenses.
Arrangements are under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed online at www.artesiafunerals.com.
