June 15, 1940 – February 23, 2026

Carl Ingram, retired journalist, proud father, world traveler, and devoted outdoorsman, passed away on February 23, 2026 following a brief illness. Born on June 15, 1940, in Grass Valley, California, Carl’s life was deeply rooted in the history of the Golden State. The grandson of California State Senator and senior proprietor of the Grass Valley Union Newspaper Thomas Ingram and the son of Merris Ingram and Alvina (nee Beck) Ingram of Grass Valley, Carl followed the family livelihood of journalism while carving out his own significant path in political reporting. After graduating from Sacramento State University in 1962, Carl’s journalism career took him to Olympia, WA where he worked for United Press International (UPI), covering many of the era’s most important stories. Carl transferred to Reno, NV while still with UPI before returning to California to serve as the UPI Sacramento Bureau Chief. During this period, Carl also enlisted and served on the press desk of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War-era draft.

Fortunate enough to avoid the perils of overseas duty, one of the highlights of his service was a “mission” he conceived to dutifully fulfill his assignment of generating positive press. Carl convinced a C-7 pilot friend to take him on a critical supply drop over Idaho, where unseasonable winter snow had cut off a farmer’s cattle herd from their feed. Flying low over the snow-packed plains, the bomber dropped bales of hay directly in front of the stranded animals. The mission was a success, and the herd survived until they could be rescued. Carl’s published account of the deed became a career highlight, though he chuckled when recalling how his pilot friend was “chewed out beyond belief” after the story regarding the use of Air Force property went public. That mission highlighted the two sides of Carl’s character: a good-hearted, sometimes mischievous wit and an unshakeable sense of professional duty.

While Carl maintained a lifelong appreciation for the spirited storytelling of those early years, he treated the subsequent decades of hard-nosed reporting with the gravity and integrity they deserved. This commitment led him from a mundane military desk job to the corridors of power. With UPI in Sacramento, Carl covered major national events and was present for three presidential assassination attempts most notably that of Gerald Ford at the State Capitol where Carl was captured in the background of the iconic press photos seconds before Secret Service swarmed the scene. He spent over 30 years covering the Capitol as a reporter and later an editor, first with UPI and subsequently with the Los Angeles Times. His tenure saw him witness some of California’s most momentous political shifts.

Carl was the father of four sons, including his special-needs son, Aaron, for whom he provided dedicated care until his final day. Though a fixture in the state’s political circles, Carl was truly at home in the California mountains. He was an avid fisherman and a master of the grill; his greatest joy was any family gathering centered around a shared meal.

In retirement, Carl pursued a lifelong passion for travel and cultural exchange, making several trips to Shanghai and other cities across China. He formed deep friendships during these journeys that he maintained for the remainder of his life.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Merris and Alvina Ingram; sister Karin Ingram; brother Erik Ingram; and recently his son Kirk Ingram. He is survived by his sons, Bret Ingram (Michelle) of Loomis, Aaron Ingram of Rocklin, and Evan Ingram (Brenna) of New Orleans; sister Kristin Ingram Ludlum of Nevada City; nephew Dr. Drew Ingram (Jessica) of Granite Bay; niece Joy Horn (Josh) of Petaluma; and several grand nieces and grand nephew.

A combined memorial service will take place this summer for Carl and Kirk in Roseville, CA.