Wiley Rogers Ingram

Wiley Rogers Ingram, 88, of St. Petersburg passed away on February 21, 2024, at Lexington Rehab in Rapid Recovery. He was undergoing therapy after a fall and broken femur. Rogers was born in Slocomb, AL on August 31, 1935, to Lena and Charlie Ingram. He had older siblings, Jim Frank, Grover Spurgeon and Sybil Erline. After his mother’s death when he was 7, he was raised by his Grandmother Martha Whitfield Hardy. Being as the family were sharecroppers, the family moved many times during his childhood. He lived in Taylor, Alabama; Pheonix City, Alabama; Reynoldsville, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia and Malvern, Alabama. He helped the family with farming chores – picking cotton, gathering peanuts and other various crops. It was a hard life, but he ended up working in a print shop in Slocomb as a boy, sweeping the floor. His career finally ended in the printing industry. He worked for a printing company in Columbus, GA and the newspaper in Phoenix City, Alabama. He moved to Pinellas County in the late 60’s and became a printing instructor for the Pinellas County School System at Clearwater Comprehensive Middle School and then transferred to PTEC- St. Petersburg to set up the new printing lab in the technology school. He retired from the school system after 30 years of service. After retirement, he worked for the Veteran’s Administration at Bay Pines in the Domiciliary as a printing instructor, teaching veterans how to use the printing machines. He retired in 2011 after 12 years of service. In 1976, Sharon and Rogers married and had a combined family. Kenneth and Kevin were Rogers’ children; Laurie was Sharon’s and then Rebecca was their own. They enjoyed 47+ years of marriage in addition to dating 2 years prior (test run as Rogers would say). They enjoyed their trips to Slocomb each summer and whenever they could fit it into their schedules. Rogers is survived by his wife, Sharon; Children: Kenneth (Kathy) Ingram; Kevin Ingram; Rebecca Tapia; Laurie (Marshall) Rankin and three grandsons; Kenny Ingram, Ben and Sam Rankin. There are many cousins, nieces, and nephews as well. There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Letter Carriers’ Hall, 5369 Park Blvd., from 12:30-3 p.m. . A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for Saturday, April 6. Place and time information will be forthcoming.