Lonnie Izaak Ingram

Lonnie Izaak Ingram was born April 9, 1969 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Leonard Ingram (deceased) and Viola King-Smith. He finished his race and was called to his heavenly home on July 26, 2016.
He attended school in the Seven Hills school district. During his youth he had a passion for sports and excelled in football and baseball. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1987 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Defiance College in 1991.
Upon graduation from college, Lonnie worked in Finance for a number of years. He later worked at Ford Motor Company before settling into a career at Vantiv, Inc.
Lonnie attended Revelation Missionary Baptist Church and accepted Christ at an early age. As a youth he sang in the Rosebuds choir and later participated in Revelation’s male chorus. In 1999, Lonnie accepted the call to preach and attended seminary school at Temple Bible College and Cincinnati Christian University. He was an associate minister at Revelation before being called to pastor the New Mercy Missionary Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio in 2008. As a pastor Lonnie loved and was loved by his congregation. He was dedicated to serving and teaching and was known as a true theologian. He believed in the four “E’s” of ministry: Engage, Embrace, Employ & Empower.
Lonnie met the love of his life Hope Rencher in 2002 when he officiated the marriage of her lifelong friend. He said it was “love at first sight”. Lonnie & Hope wed on July 24,2004 and shared a very close and loving relationship. They frequently attended sporting events and concerts, and loved to dine and travel together.
On February 7, 2006 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Lael. They were a very close knit family unit. Lonnie was a dedicated and involved father and shared an especially close relationship with Lael. As the saying goes, she was the ‘apple of his eye’. He coached her softball and basketball teams and shared his love of technology, gadgets and shopping with her.
Lonnie was a people person and cherished the relationships he had with his family and friends. He enjoyed light-hearted debates with anyone who would engage. He loved the news, animal discovery shows, and programs that enabled him to learn something new. Despite living with an Ohio State graduate he was a steadfast Michigan fan. He had an infectious spirit that will truly be missed.
He was preceded in death by his father Leonard Ingram, stepmother Ruth Ingram, father in-law Ronald Rencher, brother Bernard (Delores) Mays and sister Linda Mays.
Lonnie leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Hope and daughter Lael; mother, Viola King-Smith; mother in-law, Glenda Sroufe; five sisters, Kimberly (Fred) Ingram, Debra Sellers, Denise (Melvin) Wilburn-Lunsford, Anna (Roy) Marshall, Jeanette Mays; two brothers, Clarence Harris and David Mays; one brother in-law, Steven (Chamarda) Rencher; four sisters in-law, Natalie Reeves, Rhonda Perry, Monica (Cornell) Rencher-Smith, Kristin Rencher; fourteen nieces and nephews; seven great-nieces & nephews; in-laws; and a host of other relatives and friends.