James Barry Ingersoll

Ingersoll, James Barry View/Sign Guest Book James Barry Ingersoll October 3, 1941 - June 26, 2009 SALEM - James Barry (J.B.) Ingersoll passed away on June 26, 2009 after a fulfilling and proud life of 67 years. He was born in Kane, Pennsylvania to Samuel and Arleen Ingersoll and grew up in the small town of Mt. Jewett, Pa. His early experiences there - including working as a newspaper delivery boy at age ten, an active involvement as a scholar-athlete at his local high school, and roaming the surrounding wilderness to hunt, fish, and swim in the pond of the "Dairy Farm" - formed the basis of a life lived to the fullest. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from Slippery Rock State College (now University) in Slippery Rock, Pa. in 1964. He was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and a nationally ranked collegiate diver, as well as captain of the SRSC swim team. After college, Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1968 as Counterintelligence Agent with the 190th MIG in New Cumberland, Pa. It was during this time in the service that he married Dianne Forsyth on December 3, 1966. Later, he earned a Master of Science in Recreation from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1969 and immediately after graduation, the young couple moved to Oregon. Jim worked for the Oregon State Hospital in Salem until his retirement in 1999 as Unit Director, mostly with juveniles and adolescents, and was responsible for starting up the Adolescent Service Unit (ASU) and introducing several progressive treatment therapies for patients. He had been a regular member at Trinity United Methodist Church in N.E. Salem for many years until the family moved to West Salem. Jim was an avid outdoorsman and was passionate about physical fitness and recreation. He was a licensed white-water rafting guide, a black belt in karate, an active camper, a hunter and fisherman, and was still lifting weights and doing cardiovascular exercise until just weeks before his untimely passing. Perhaps surprising to many, he was also a pretty good "gamer." Above everything else, however, Jim was a fiercely devoted husband and father. He loved his family more than anything and reminisced fondly about camping trips and vacations taken with his wife and three children. He was a volunteer coach, team parent, and never missed any of his children's soccer matches, gymnastics meets or plays. "Everybody I work with knows exactly what my children are doing," he often said. "And if they weren't interested, I'd tell them anyway." With his quick wit, gift for storytelling, and generous nature at peace with God, Jim is dearly missed by his remaining family. Jim is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Dianne; his sons, Sean-Scott and Tyler; his daughter, Shannon; and his two daughters-in-law, Becki and Kim. He is also survived by his sisters, Darla, LauraLee (Lolly); and brother, Timothy. His legacy also includes three granddaughters, Bryce, Dianna, and Kendall. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at Restlawn Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 11 a.m. Arrangements by Restlawn Funeral Home.