James Morris Ingle, Sr

Mr. James Morris Ingle, Sr, age 68, area businessman, passed away late Thursday afternoon ,October 20, 2011 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was born April 10, 1943 in Walton County the son of J.H. and Icie Lunsford Ingle. Living in Walton County most of his life, “Jim” as he was known my most of his friends, attended Walton County Schools, graduating with the class of 1961. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served his country during the Viet Nam Crisis as a helicopter pilot.
When his tour of duty ended he worked in the banking industry and later at Tallahassee Ford until 1972 when he went into private business. During the growth years of Northwest Florida and South Alabama in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s Jim became well known all over the area brokering heavy equipment. He became very successful because of his salesmanship abilities from his Tallahassee Ford days, combined with his expertise in financing learned while in the banking business and his basic knowledge of the product he was selling. Jim was a big man, and those who knew him well, know he had a big heart too. One interesting story of Jim’s many compassionate deeds is a recent one; he was required to go to Sacred Heart Hospital in the southend on a regular basis for treatment. While there, he noticed others, with the same ailment there for treatment too. Waiting his turn in the waiting room he overheard numerous accounts of the financial difficulty for many of them in arranging for someone to drive them there for treatment, and in many cases, them having to make the decision of whether to buy groceries or pay someone to get them to the hospital for treatment. Swelled with compassion for these people, every week when it was time for Jim’s son to drive him down to Miramar for treatments, he would have him stop first at Wal*Mart and buy several hundred dollars in gift cards in fifty dollar increments and Jim left them with the nurses at Sacred Heart for them to distribute anonymously to any as they had need. In making final arrangements for Jim’s service, his family decided rather than friends and family sending flowers, if they would buy a Wal*Mart gift card instead and bring it with them to the visitation and/or funeral service and drop them in the basket being provided for “Jim’s Friends”.

Among survivors are is son Jimbo and fiancee Sarah. His special friend and companion Joyce Kelly. His brother Harold and wife Lisa. His sister Mary Ann Turk and husband Billy. Three grandchildren, Jade Elisabeth, James Kaleb and Kavin Hunter. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorials may be made in Jim’s memory as explained in the biographical paragraph above. A time of visitation will be Monday, October 24, 2011 from 6 until 8 P.M. in Jerry Evans Chapel. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10 A.M. in Jerry Evans Chapel with Brother Doug Hogg and Brother John Mark Brown officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in the Ingle Family plot in Magnolia Cemetery.