Robert (Bob) D. Inghram entered into eternal life April 10, 2018. He was born May 18, 1920, the youngest of three sons, to Curtis Inghram and Madge Gatton Inghram in Morning Sun, Iowa. He grew up working the family farm during the Depression. Completing 2 years of pre-dentistry at Burlington Junior College, but due to hardships beyond his control, the goal of becoming a dentist did not happen. Instead, in 1940 after seeing a recruitment news reel at the local theater, he joined the Army Air Corp. He completed flying school and by 1942 was in England flying Spitfires. While flying cover for the raid on Dieppe, France, he was shot down over the English Channel and subsequently picked up by the Germans when he floated onto the shores of France. He spent a total of 34 months as a POW much of it at Stalag Luft III for which he received both the Prisoner of War Medal and the Purple Heart. He dug in all 3 tunnels (Tom, Dick and Harry) made famous by the movie The Great Escape.
Returning to the States after the war, he married the love of his life, Catherine. His 28 years of active duty found him stationed at bases throughout the States and overseas. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service during the Vietnam conflict. In 1968, upon retirement from the Air Force, he began working for Pan American airlines at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the supervisor of range operations during the Apollo program. Eventually, he retired from Pan American airlines with 20 years of service.
He is survived by his children, Bonnie I. Siegrist (Christopher), Robert D. Inghram, Jr. (Judy) and Benjamin M. Inghram (Daiva); grandchildren, Brett I. Siegrist (Nora), Todd B. Siegrist, Catherine Christine Siegrist, Robert D. Inghram, III (Celeste), J. Travis Inghram, Benjamin A. Inghram (Stephanie) and Michael A. Inghram; and great-grandchildren, Zachary S. Siegrist, Cole N. Siegrist, Vera L. Inghram, Everett D. Inghram and Benjamin C. Inghram.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Catherine M. Inghram and his brothers, Richard C. Inghram and Benjamin A. Inghram.
Memorial services will be held at the High Flight Chapel on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 1:30 pm. Internment at Arlington National Cemetery, with full Military honors, will take place sometime in the future.