William Massey "Bill" Ingram, Jr.

William (Bill) Massey Ingram Jr. died peacefully at his home in Petaluma on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at the age of 67. Bill was born on March 28, 1947, in St. Augustine, FL, to William Massey Ingram Sr. and Helen McKenzie. He grew up with an interest in westerns and cowboys of the time, such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and The Lone Ranger. It was his father, however, who instilled in him a love of hunting and fishing that he later passed onto his kids. He attended Forest Hill HS, and continued his studies as an art major at Palm Beach JC. He met Lynda Lingenfelter in 1968 at a friend's party in FL. The two were eventually married in Aug., 1971, and later moved to Novato, CA to begin their life together. The couple later moved to Petaluma and had two sons, Ryan William Ingram, in 1975, and Christopher David Ingram, in 1981. He was a loving husband and father, involved in many activities during his kids' upbringing, such as Cub/Boy Scouts, Little/Senior League baseball, 4-H, and various school projects. He was a very likeable person who made and kept friends from different walks of life. He was a determined person who taught his kids persistency and perseverance. He had a great sense of humor that was one of a kind (which included many "catch phrases" he learned from his Great Uncle Aubrey, whom he adored greatly). After losing his father at the age of 15, he taught himself how to do many things from reading books and became quite the handyman. He took on anything from small maintenance projects, to large outdoor construction projects (building aviaries, fences, sheds, decks, and retaining walls). He spent some of his other creative energy building models (cars, boats, aircraft) and tinkering on his Mustang. In 1996 he bought his dream car, a 1966 Ford Mustang fastback, as a restoration project that he tinkered with over the next ten years. To help support this endeavor, he became an active member of the North Bay Mustang Club and the Sonoma County Mustang Club. Since 2006, he's participated in numerous car shows and events, winning a few awards and trophies along the way. In early 2011 Bill was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare form of abdominal cancer. We all remained positive and supportive as he fought through two major surgeries. Over the past year he received several rounds of chemotherapy, but the cancer ultimately claimed him. His will to live was very strong, surely fueled by incredible love for his family, friends, and fondness of the outdoors. He is survived by his wife, Lynda, his sisters Carol Kelley and Patti Longstreth, his sons Ryan and Chris, granddaughters Lydia, Natalie, and a third granddaughter on the way. Family and friends are invited to attend a "Celebration of Life" on Saturday, 9/27, from 1 - 4pm, at his home in Petaluma. For more information call: (707) 364-0729.