Lucy Ingle

Lucy Lane Ingle

December 7, 1930 — May 28, 2017

Lucy Lane Ingle was born and raised in western Chatham County, near the Randolph County border, where the dirt was vibrantly red and everyone lived and worked on a farm. Her parents, Rob and Lela Lane, grew grain crops, raised hogs and chickens, watermelons and muskmelons, strawberries, and all the vegetables we want to have in our gardens. They had a splendid scuppernong arbor, and grew apples, which they made into cider. Lela Lane, Lucy's mother, made her own butter and sold eggs. It was a self sufficient farm. They bought coffee, flour, sugar, tea and a few canned goods. But mostly they ate what they grew and raised. This upbringing shaped Lucy for a life of strength, self-sufficiency and being in tune with nature and the seasons. The Lanes also were faithful members of Rocky River Church, where Rob and Lela lie in rest.

Lucy graduated from Staley High School, where she was an outstanding student and the star of the girls' basketball team. She plunged into a life of work at a hosiery mill in Siler City, which over time was called Siler City Manufacturing Company and Kellwood Manufacturing Company. She worked there for more than forty years. It was a long and dedicated career of hard work. She arrived at the factory every day at 7 a.m. and left at 3 p.m. Lucy made many friends there, and she counseled and supported many people, almost all women. In 1964, a group of the women who worked in the hosiery mill took a bus to New York and attended the World's Fair. It was a highlight for her, and a nice gesture by the company.

In February of 1951, Lucy married Ben Ingle. They met on a blind date, and pretty soon ran off to South Carolina to get hitched. No money for a fancy wedding, but they enjoyed a long and happy marriage.

They settled in at Ben's family farm in Silk Hope. Lucy pursued a life of hard work, devotion to her family, service to her community, and kindness to all her many friends. Ben owned and operated a dairy farm. To people who do not know what this entails, Ben and Lucy's family wish to report that it is a 365 day per year devotion to keeping the animals alive, healthy and productive. Ben and Lucy could never go on trips, not even for a weekend. They were tied to the farm, but that was another devotion. They loved working in their splendid and prolific garden, harvesting squash and tomatoes, canning green beans, freezing corn and butterbeans, and truly understanding the fruits of nature.

Lucy was known in the community for her generous service to others. She was a member of Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, and played every role possible in that congregation. She sang in the choir, served as a deacon and church treasurer, chaired the cemetery committee, was a leader of the United Methodist Women, prepared snacks for vacation bible school, taught Sunday school, and cleaned the church, in the days when the women of the church took responsibility for that chore. Up until she died, she was filling the backpacks of children from Silk Hope Elementary School. These were children whose teachers believed they might go hungry over the weekend. At the age of 86, Lucy felt called to this humanitarian task.

One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandsons Ben and Alex. She taught them about fishing, gardening and the outdoors. She taught them, by example, how to be a good person.

After Ben Ingle died in January of 2002, though she missed him terribly, Lucy continued to live a very active life in the community. She enjoyed attending the college graduations of Ben (2005) and Alex (2007) and Ben and Marci's wedding (2009).

Lucy adored her many friends in the community. A sadness of her last decade was witnessing the death of so many of the people she loved. But she bore this with her special strength, stoicism and understanding of the nature of life.

This great life has come to its end. The family of Lucy Ingle wishes to thank the entire Silk Hope community for appreciating her. In particular, we would like to thank the following persons for their friendship, companionship, constancy and love: Mary Everwine, Danny and Pam Pike, Carolyn and O.Carroll Buckner, the Lucas family, Jason Dickerson, and Buddy Lemons, for putting out that last load of mulch.

Lucy is survived by her daughter, Rosemary Ingle Waldorf; her dearly loved son-in-law Gerhart Tracy Waldorf; her grandson Alexander Ingle Waldorf; her grandson Benjamin Tracy Waldorf; her granddaughter-in law Marci Summers Waldorf; and her great grandchildren Ada Waldorf and Jack Waldorf.

We all feel so grateful to have lived in her presence.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 2 at 2 pm at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Mt. Vernon Memorial Fund or to UNC Hospice, 287 East Street, Suite 221, Pittsboro, NC. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.