Ingrid Martha Caroline Matthews' Obituary
Ingrid Matthews Obituary
Ingrid Martha Caroline Kastning Matthews passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 11:48 AM. She was 80 years young. She is survived by her daughter Erika Marie, Erika’s husband Kent Wyatt, and her beloved grandchildren Nolan Walter and Anna Marie.
Ingrid faced many struggles later in her life. These included a devastating diagnosis of Parkinson’s for Arthur, and a series of unexpected strokes Ingrid suffered. Even with such challenges she always had a positive outlook, and used exercise and activity as medicine for her health.
Ingrid’s first grandchild Nolan Walter was born June 6, 2011. She was known as Oma and absolutely flourished as a grandmother. Her unconditional love was like a ray of sunshine. Ingrid loved her family with all her heart and would do anything and everything to be with them. This included moving from Oklahoma City to Tulsa when she learned Erika was pregnant for the second time. Her beautiful granddaughter Anna Marie was born in 2014 after she and Arthur relocated to Tulsa. She was the type of Oma who would change all of her plans just to spend an extra few minutes with her grandchildren.
Ingrids light faded a little when she lost her greatest love Arthur in 2015. She stayed the course and continued being active at her new church, Faith Methodist. She was involved in book club at the church and visited her beloved friends in Oklahoma City every chance she could. One of Ingrids favorite activities was walking her best buddy Fritz every day. He brought he tremendous joy, and never left her side. She always greeted neighbors with her bright smile and warm attitude on her Fritzie walks.
Words cannot describe how much family and friends will miss darling Ingrid. She was an amazing soul and although she endured many health struggles towards the end of her life, her drive to keep active was a testimony to her fighting spirit. She was preceded two weeks in death by her beloved pup Fritz. Although the world lost a beautiful kind generous person, heaven gained an angel. Ingrid, Art and Fritz will now be reunited in heaven, forever.
Ingrid was born January 16, 1942 in Elgin, Illinois. She was the only daughter of Wilhelm and Marie Kastning. Both of her parents were born and raised in Germany, and narrowly escaped the tragedy of Hitler by immigrating to the United States. She had a wonderful childhood in Elgin, and spent several years abroad in Germany as a teenager. She would also return many times as an adult to visit her German family members, and kept the connections to them her entire life. Keeping their German heritage was important to Wilhelm and Marie, and they passed many German traditions and customs to Ingrid. One of her fondest childhood memories was helping her mother Marie bake traditional German sourdough bread.
Ingrid received her Bachelor of Arts in German from the University of Illinois, and was a Pi Beta Kappa scholar. She also received her Masters in Library Science, also from the University of Illinois. Sadly, Ingrid lost her mother Marie while in college. While attending the University of Illinois, she met her first husband, Richard Welch. Ingrid worked in library science in Chicago and funded Richards path through medical school at the University of Illinois. After medical school and residency, Ingrid and Richard settled in San Antonio, Texas, where they had their only child, a daughter, Erika Marie.
Ingrid loved working in a library setting and worked at the San Antonio College library for many years. She was very close to her father, Wilhelm, and he lived with her, Richard and Erika for many years in San Antonio. She was an active mom, and taught Erika how to ride a bike, swim and read at a young age.
After several years in San Antonio Ingrid and her family relocated to Oklahoma City. Ingrid lost her father Wilhelm shortly after moving to Oklahoma City. After almost 20 years of marriage, Ingrid and Richard decided to divorce. Although this was a very difficult time for Ingrid, she and her daughter Erika were extremely close from this time forward. More than mother and daughter, they became like sisters and best friends. That closeness remained for the rest of Ingrids life.
After her divorce from Richard, Ingrid continued to work part time as a German teacher in the Edmond school district. She was active at her church, Church of the Servant, singing in the choir and enjoying time with many close friends. Then upon a dear friends advice, she took up bicycle riding. This wonderful sport and active lifestyle brought her many amazing friends. However, the most important part of cycling was through it Ingrid found a fellow cyclist who would become the love of her life, Arthur Matthews. She and Art were an instant match, and enjoyed cycling trips across the country and in Europe. They married, and this was what Ingrid would refer to as the happiest time of her life. She and Art spent hours working hard on their individual bikes or tandem, and then enjoying a post ride cold beer and lunch.
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