The Asheville Citizen-Times has had full coverage of the death of 77-year-old Bob Ingle, who died Sunday of cancer. Here’s a salient piece of reporter John Boyle’s story today. Boyle covered Ingle’s funeral on Thursday. He’s quoting Ingles corporate attorney Ephraim “Effie” Spielman, who eulogized Ingle:
Neither age nor illness dulled Ingle’s passion for the company, right up till the end.
Spielman said Saturday morning Ingle got an update on sales and store remodels from company president Jim Lanning, who started his career as a bagger 36 years ago.
In the afternoon, Ingle talked over the financials with his son, Bobby Ingle, the company’s CEO.
He was, as Spielman said, “the boss until the very end.” Ingle had been CEO since 1965, chairman of the board from 1965-2004 and president from 1965-82.
“At 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, he called for his beloved wife Laura to be by his side,” Spielman said. “He remarked in his typical understated manner that they had done good and it had been a good ride, but now it was time for a new adventure — no more fighting.