Ms. INGALSBE, KATHY to TAPS

Kathy Kelly Ingalsbe passed away peacefully as she slept late on October 4, 2025 after fighting a succession of serious health issues over the past six years. Her husband was with her. Kathy was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, graduated from Dreher High School and attended Columbia College.

She met her husband Duane at a dance that neither of them had planned to attend and after they had each turned down an offer by a mutual friend to set them up on a blind date. Fifteen months later they were married and the friend was in the wedding party! Duane (a Lieutenant from Colorado) was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC on the outskirts of Columbia. A little over a year after marrying, they (with a two-month-old baby) were reassigned to Germany. Thus began a 30-year career in the US Army.

Kathy loved to travel and experience new things. She adapted easily to the periodic Army moves and she considered each place to be truly home – as soon as she had wall paper up in at least one room. She was a talented interior designer who loved to redecorate each home and acquire things from each new location. Kathy also made sure the family got out to see and experience what each new area had to offer. Her and the family’s favorite duty station was Vicenza, Italy where son Michael graduated from High School.

She was loving, thoughtful, kind, funny, optimistic, strong and resilient. A true Southern Steel Magnolia. Her strength and resilience were never as apparent as during her last few years of declining health.

Kathy and Duane were very happily married for 61 years. Both said repeatedly that they would love to go back and do it all again.

Kathy is survived by her husband Col. Duane G. Ingalsbe, USA (Ret), their son Michael, his wife Karen, and Grandson Connor. She was predeceased by her father, William “Dykes” Kelly, her mother Audrey Calcutt Kelly and her sister Shirley Kelly Schilletter.

Kathy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.