James George Ingalls, 75, of Columbia City, died peacefully at his home in the company of his daughter at 2:43 p.m. Sunday, January 15, 2023.

Born on December 24, 1947, in Cooperstown, New York, he was the son of the late Frank G. and Alice E. (Campbell) Ingalls. He began school in Scotia, and then the family moved to Fort Wayne, where he completed grade school and graduated from South Side High School in 1965.

He entered the U.S. Air Force on October 29, 1969, at Fort Campbell, KY. He served as a weather observer and received his honorable discharge on March 28, 1977. He continued his education, earning a Master's Degree in Sociology and Psychology for Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.

On June 15, 1968, he married Sonya S. Eddings. While in the Air Force, the couple lived in Austin, TX, Hopkinsville, KY, and Bellview, TX. For the past 37 years, they have resided in Columbia City. Sonya died on December 7, 2018.

James began his work career with The Opportunity Center, Columbia City, later becoming Passages as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. In 1993, he went to work for Levin & Sons as a cost analyst, and from 1997 to 2007, he was the GED instructor at the Whitley County Jail. He completed his work career with Ivy Tech as a mathematics instructor.

He loved being with people and, throughout his teaching career, invested in them to bring out their best. His caring heart extended to the church as he was a member of the group filling "Backpacks for Kids" and a regular at the Wednesday morning Bible Study. In his free time, he liked to golf.

He is survived by his two children, Robyn (Robert Jones) Ingalls of Columbia City and Matt (Abbey) Ingalls of Salem, OR; grandchildren, Micah and Elliott Ingalls and a sister, Kathryn Ingalls of Loudenville, NY.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Saturday at the New Hope Wesleyan Church, 400 W Columbia City. Burial is beside his wife at the Stough Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service Saturday at the church.

Memorials in James' honor are to the New Hope Wesleyan Church.