Obituary of Virginia Beatrice Ingram

Virginia (Ginny) Beatrice Ingram February 10, 1927—February 10, 2019 Some people have to work at becoming who they are. Others just come into the world wired a certain way. It doesn't take long to figure out that Ginny came wired for kindness. Her life was an ongoing expression of that basic personality trait. Examples abound. As a Registered Dietician, Ginny worked in various clinical settings. Like her peers in that profession, she carefully tailored diets to each patient's therapeutic plan. In practice, these medically appropriate diets often encountered unforeseen problems with some patient populations—particularly, the elderly. The complex needs of these individuals may have been a source of frustration for some, but not for Ginny. A high fluid intake, for example, was sometimes difficult for those accustomed to a very limited quantity and range of liquids. Others may have been resistant to embrace the dietary changes that would have enable them to benefit from Ginny's healing diets. It would have been easy for Ginny to ignore these complications—to just do her job and call it a day. Kitchen staff would serve the trays and later dispose of the uneaten rations. Doing only what was required of her, however, was not in Ginny's personal (as a opposed personnel) job description. She never just assumed her diets were effective: her approach was always to seek alternatives, and to research other food and diet sources, until she found a combination that would appeal to the individual patient—the ultimate goal being a tangible improvement in quality of life. Caregiving came naturally to Ginny. She moved to Tacoma, WA in 1972 to assist her father in the day-to-day care of her mother, who had developed Parkinson Disease. For over 20 years, Ginny's mother, Borghild Wedeberg, required constant assistance with every basic human activity. We who knew Ginny marveled at her tireless and unstinting commitment to her mother’s quality of life—but, knowing Ginny’s character, we should not have been surprised. Due to Ginny’s unwavering care, Borghild lived into her eighties, virtually unheard-of in Parkinson's patients. As if life had not already challenged her, Ginny’s aunt Esther also became ill and her aging uncle finally had to move out of the family's ancestral home, where he lived alone for many decades. Ginny and her father took her uncle into their home and cared for him until his passing. A few years after Borghild's passing, Ginny's father, Sivert Wedeberg, began a long slow decline. As the unfairness of life would have it, at about the same time, her son, David, became ill with the disease that would later take him from us. As she had done in past, Ginny unhesitatingly took over her father's care, while simultaneously taking on an increasingly prominent role in her son's care. Drawing on some unseen reservoir of strength and time, Ginny's compassion, perseverance, and devotion left none to feel neglected or of lesser importance. Incredibly, these seemingly overwhelming obligations only strengthened Ginny’s resolve and dedication to caring for those in need. Those for whom Ginny did not provide direct care also came to deeply respect her superhuman efforts on behalf of others. For example, during her mother's illness, Ginny hired an in-home caregiver by the name of Pat. Pat and her husband struggled mightily to make a good life for themselves, but suffered a series of setbacks—eventually having to reluctantly accept public assistance. The consistent kindness and support Ginny provided to Pat on a number of different levels earned her Pat's fierce and undying loyalty. Her devotion to Pat did not end when Pat left this world: Pat's dog—a diminutive Shih Tzu named Sissy—unfortunately fell into an unhealthy and tumultuous environment. Ginny rescued Sissy and patiently nursed her back to emotional and physical health. Sissy became as loyal to Ginny as Pat was—never leaving her side. Ginny's family wish that all who read this obituary could have seen Sissy's open and wrenching display of canine anguish when her close companion passed away. Ginny's family and friends all experienced her unflagging kindness on a regular basis. As a result, we—like her parents, her son, her uncle and aunt, Pat, Sissy, and her many grateful patients—deeply respect and admire her innate and uncompromising kindness. We all have long litanies of additional examples. Don't hesitate to ask. Just budget a little time to hear us out. Virginia's life was an ongoing expression of innate human kindness, dedicated caregiving, and a fierce and unwavering drive to do what is right and good. As she passed peacefully (albeit much too early for those left behind) into the next life (on her 92nd Birthday), It was not difficult to envision her reunion with those who loved her, and God’s protective arms drawing her into heaven saying, “Well done good and faithful servant, come and rest now.” This vision will forever provide inspiration for our lives, but also peace and comfort for us as we toil through the rest of our existence without her. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial, Funerals Homes, Chapels and Crematories. 253-566-1008