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Leonard Lee Ingram, Jr, age 78, of Columbus, MS, passed away peacefully at home in the company of loved ones June 4, 2024.
Visitation will be held 1:00 Friday, June 7, 2024, at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 with Pastors David Hartung and Glenn Miller officiating and interment at Memorial Gardens in Starkville.
Leonard was born June 13, 1945, in Laurel, MS, to the late Leonard Lee, Sr., and Mary Ophelia McCoy Ingram. He had a childlike curiosity and was a lifelong learner intensely interested in the physical sciences. He graduated from Soso High School then earned an ACS-certified B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. He retired from Mississippi State University as a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts (formerly known as the Forest Products Lab). Leonard was known for his analytical expertise, particularly with mass spectrometry, of environmental samples in support of the Department and industry. He particularly enjoyed working with students to help them succeed. He was a general aviation pilot and enjoyed both in-shore and off-shore fishing, sailing trips and vacations with friends, snow skiing, marksmanship, astronomy, and playing the guitar. He had served in the Mississippi National Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was a longtime member of the Starkville Gun Club, Tombigbee Stump Jumpers, American Chemical Society, and the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
Leonard was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church and had lived in Starkville prior to relocating to retirement on Tibbee Creek in Columbus.
He is survived by is devoted wife of 45 years Reba Richards Ingram and his son Leonard Lee (Len) Ingram III, brother Jim (Debra) Ingram, sister Helen Ingram Lott, and sister-in-law Doris DuPree; niece Rhonda Lott and nephews Danny (Erin) DuPree and Ricky DuPree.
Pallbearers will be Bill Cooke, Haimes Critz, Danny Dupree, John Perry, Jim Price, and Bert Robinson. Honorary pallbearers include Rubin Schmulsky and Graham Wells.
Memorials may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church at 1104 Louisville St., Starkville, MS 39759, or to the organization of your choice.
