Olen Ingram

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2016 at West Main Baptist Church 2:00 p.m. for lifelong Artesia resident Olen David Ingram, who went home Friday, October 14, 2016. Pastor Jason Kraft will officiate the ceremony. Cremation is under the direction of Terpening and Sons Mortuary.

Born, September 10, 1947 in Artesia New Mexico to Olen "Red" Wilburn Ingram and Ophelia "Faye" Bell (Stone) Ingram. David was raised in Artesia and attended Artesia Public Schools where he graduated in 1965.

David enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 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 October 27, 1969 and remained on active status until October 27, 1972 when he then received his Honorable Discharge with the ranking of SP5 (E-5) 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 New Mexico 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 of the home, Alberta Jane (Blevins) Ingram. They were married on June 5, 1970 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. On April 21, 1971, he was honored with the birth of their daughter, Tamala Jean (Ingram) Robison and again on June 19, 1975 he was again honored 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 then obtained a 25 year long career at Halliburton Energy Services where he was a diesel mechanic and later went on to 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 Oklahoma area until 2013. They then returned to Artesia.

David also loved to volunteer his time with his friends and 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 ½ 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, BBQ's, fish fry's, fishing on the banks of the Pecos River or Lake McMillan or back in his parent's hometown area of Antlers, OK, 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.

David is survived by his wife, Alberta Jane (Blevins) Ingram, son Michael D Ingram and wife Franki Ingram, daughter Tamala J Robison and husband John R Robison, all of Artesia NM. His siblings, Phyllis Walters and husband Wayne Walters of Eunice NM, Wayne Ingram and wife Denise Ingram of Roswell NM, Randy Ingram and wife Becky Ingram of Artesia and Nancy Larson and husband Brad Larson of Artesia NM. Sister-in-law Sandra Tidwell and husband Daniel Tidwell of Artesia NM. 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, Britney Blevins. Great Nephews: JT Roberts and Dean Blevins. Additional and extended family members include: Linda Ezell, James "Buster" and Carolyn Blevins, Lee and Brenda Blevins, Billy and Katie Roach, Jorge and Stormi Ramirez and their families. Numerous other family members.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Olen Wilburn Ingram and Ophelia Bell Ingram, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Antlers, Oklahoma area and Artesia New Mexico, his father in law and mother in law, James William (Junior) Blevins and Bertha Lee (Strange) Blevins and one great niece.

Honorary Pall Bearers 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 of the current and former Artesia Fire Department and surrounding volunteer fire departments of Eddy County.

The family ask in lieu of flowers please make donations in the memory of David Ingram to the local Artesia Shop with a Hero.

A bank account is set up at Western Bank in Artesia to assist the family with defraying the cost of funeral expenses. Account number 00295188-10 or at https://www.gofundme.com/ingram-family-fund-2uesx38 .

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