William S. Ingram Jr., 76

LEWES - William S. Ingram Jr., of Lewes, passed away at home on Thursday, June 19, 2008. He was 76.

Bill was born in Lewes on May 13, 1932. He was the son of William S. Ingram and Florence "Scotty" Ingram.

An Eagle Scout, Bill graduated from Lewes High School in 1950.

He attended Virginia Polytecnic Institute on an athletic and academic scholarship.

Bill left VPI in order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot on the Delaware Bay and River. He retired in 1993 after safely piloting 5780 ships.

Bill was the first vice president of the Lewes Historical Society and was recently awarded the Dr. James Marvill Lifetime Service Award.

History had always been one of Bill's passions.

Bill's first wife, Mary Louise Joseph, died in April 1984

He is survived by his second wife, Doris Valk Ingram; four children, William S. Ingram III and his wife Tara, Mary Prentice Yff and her husband Christopher, Elizabeth B. Leimgruber and her husband William and Allen M. Swett and his wife Catherine; and five grandchildren, Sacha Ingram, Scott Ingram, Michael Yff, Sara Swett and A. Marshall Swett Jr.

The Ingrams have a second home in Weston, Vt. They are members of the Old Parish Church in Weston, where Bill sang in the church choir. Bill was also actively involved with the Weston Antique Show for 10 years.

Bill's greatest joy in life, beyond his family and tractors, was being with people. He was one of those rare men who everyone loved; he was funny and just wished to please and care for all whom he met.

All services are private.

Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to the Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes, DE 19958; or to the Tunnell Cancer Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.