To say that Tom Ingle was an enthusiastic and generous member of the Downtown Optimist would be an understatement at the least. Tom had a long and productive life; he was born in 1912 and died in 1998 at the age of 85 years young. He was a local boy, who attended Central High School and graduated from the University of Evansville.

Tom joined the Downtown Optimist Club in 1980 and was our club president, 198X to 198X.  He also served several terms as a member of our board.

As one would suspect Tom was an astute business person who eventually owned and operated the „Riverside Supply Company" selling electrical and lighting equipment with a plumbing and repair division. This endeavor was very successful and when he sold out we was able to retire a moderately wealthy man.

Tom and Evelyn had one loving daughter and no other children or grandchildren. He had many hobbies which he shared with his wife, such as fishing, canoeing and camping. He took care of his own yard and relished a chance to show you his annuals and vegetable garden. His house was adjacent to St. Mary‟s Medical Center and he was very proud of his tennis court on an adjacent next door lot. Over the 30 years he had a huge contingency of "tennis" buddies who played with him and his wife. During the winter he was in groups at Tri-State Tennis Club. Many of us members have fond memories of playing tennis with Tom and trying to return his wicked left serve in the add court.

In the poem by Robert Frost, "The road not taken" we are reminded of the traveler who reaches a bifurcation in the road and after study says "I took the road less traveled by." Famous words, yes, one is reminded of how Tom‟s choices seem to fit into that pattern.

Tom and Evelyn might have squandered their wealth on fancy houses, vacations, cars---he drove a 20 year old Chrysler—gambling and the like, but not Tom, what he did invariably involved other people. He might have taken the common path and given all his money to one institution and been done with it. Instead he researched 28 separate charities in Evansville who now receive yearly disbursements from Tom and Evelyn‟s Trust. All of these, like the Optimist Club, involve people with much emphasis on children. Their legacy is to continue to help people.

Most people did not know also that the last five years or so of Tom‟s life he lived with cancer of prostrate with metastasis controlled by treatment... He was unlucky to also develop cancer of the scalp requiring several surgeries, skin grafts and radiation later, all caused presumably from fishing, gardening and tennis without a cap. Through out his personal trials we heard no bitterness; Tom did not get depressed like most of us would.

Lastly, his dear wife, Evelyn, developed Alzheimer‟s disease and was bedridden for five years. Tom would have nothing to do with sending her to a nursing home. He hired a day nurse, learned how to use a stomach feeding tube, formulated her feeding and for the last five years gave her excellent nursing care not available any where else. He slept on the couch in the parlor of their house near her all during that time. He predeceased her by two weeks.

As you follow all the intimate details of Tom‟s life one impressed that God had a plan for Tom, one that indeed "took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Those of us Optimist members, realize now, as we did then, what a privilege it was to have know this very generous man…..a great friend not only the Downtown Optimist Club but to all of Evansville.

Submitted by Dr. John Bender

Evansville Downtown Optimist Member and long time friend