Alice Ingham, RIP

I am sad to report that Alice Ingham passed away on May 9, 2024. Alice organized and led the Wake Island reunions from 2004 to 2017 in Boise, Idaho. I had a good visit with Alice last fall in the lovely house in Oregon where the family moved her and her sister for extended care and to be near the family. While much of her memory had fallen to Alzheimer’s disease, she remained as friendly and gracious as ever. Eight years ago, Alice and her family made the difficult decision to bring the Wake reunions to a close. The final reunion in 2017 was well-planned and well attended, and Alice’s large collection of survivors’ records and memorabilia was formally donated to the Idaho Historical Society at that time.

Born on August 27, 1929, Alice married Wake survivor Ralph “Pete” Ingham in 1950. Pete passed away in 2000, but Alice remained active in the survivors’ organization. June Faubion, a fellow Wake widow and good friend, served as Executive Secretary/Treasurer from 1998 to 2003 and Alice assisted her in the daunting duties of that final year when the Survivors of Wake, Guam, and Cavite officially disbanded. At that time, Alice volunteered to continue sending newsletters and organizing regular gatherings of the survivors, families, and friends. (For details on the history of the survivors’ organization and the more recent reunions, see my previous posts: Wake Reunion 2013, Wake Reunion 2016, and Final Wake Reunion 2017) She was ably assisted by her family and others, including June who was always at her side at the registration table, cheerfully checking people in for the reunion banquet. Sadly, June passed away at age 102 on April 24 this year, just two weeks before Alice.

The Ingham donation to the Idaho Historical Foundation in 2017 more than tripled the size of the original four-box collection of the Survivors of Wake, Guam, and Cavite, catalogued as MS 738 in the Idaho State Archives Manuscript Collections in Boise, Idaho. Anyone interested can peruse the documents and memorabilia in person by appointment.

Alice’s family includes her three children, Pati, Polli, and Ric, and many grandchildren. While all the Wake survivors and most of their wives and widows have passed away, Alice will hold a special place in the hearts of her remaining “Wake Family.” Her remains will be laid to rest with her late husband Pete in Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. Rest in peace, Alice.