Olga Beatriz Ingram PhD

Dr. Ingram was born in Guacheta Cundinamarca, Colombia to the late Jorge Bello Pachon and Blanca Josefa Laverde de Bello. She was preceded in death by her parents and younger siblings; Jorge Fernando Bello Laverde, Marinita Bello Laverde, Luis Alberto Bello Laverde, and Gabriel Enrique Bello Laverde. Surviving are her daughter, Liza “Pepita” Ingram Nolan and her husband, Donald Anthony Nolan; three grandchildren, Liza Delaney, Nicholas Anthony, and Joseph Christian Nolan; two brothers Manuel Guillermo Bello Laverde, and Gustavo Armando Bello Laverde; four sisters Gloria Ines Bello de Uribe, Maria Cristina Bello Laverde, Marta Georgina Bello de Restrepo, and Clara Patricia Bello Laverde; and several nieces and nephews. Dr. Ingram was the oldest of eleven children and learned leadership and responsibility at a very young age.

She completed her elementary and high school education at Colegio de Maria Auxiliadora de Bogota where she expressed her love for languages and teaching early on. Upon high school graduation, she attended the Universidad Pedagogica National Femenina with a teacher’s scholarship and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philology and Languages. In order to improve her knowledge of the English language, Dr. Ingram attended the Language Institute at the University of Michigan in Anne Arbor, Michigan. Upon her return to Colombia, she was selected to teach Spanish to United States personnel stationed in Bogota, Colombia. While Ingram was honored by this opportunity, the love she had developed for the United States moved her to apply for an exchange program. She was able to come to the United States as an exchange teacher and taught languages in Lauderdale County in Meridian, Mississippi.

Ingram later relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she taught Spanish, French, Latin, and German at East Ridge High School. She earned her PhD from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1994. In 2002, she retired from the Hamilton County School System so she could spend more time with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. Dr. Ingram was a true gift to all she knew. Her great love for her family, friends, work, and community were evident in all of her achievements. Dr. Ingram was loved greatly by all whose lives she touched.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the funeral home with a 7 PM Rosary Service.

A Funeral Mass will be at 1 PM on Friday, December 30, 2016 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Father Mike Nolan officiating.

Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens East.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Baptist Reynolds Hospice House 1520 West Poplar Ave, Collierville, Tennessee 38017.