Avanel Marie Wimberly Mingo

Avanel Marie Wimberly Mingo, born November 18, 1943, passed away on March 19, 2023 from small cell lung cancer at the age of 79 in Carlsbad, California. Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, she was daughter to George Allen Wimberly II, local Acadiana jazz musician, World War II veteran and school teacher, and Verna Mae Wimberly, also a school teacher. She was the eldest of eight (8) children and is preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother George Allen Wimberly III. Ava graduated from Opelousas High School in 1961, where she led the Tiger Marching Band as Head Majorette. She married James Mingo in 1966, and moved to Houston, Texas in 1969 where she went on to earn her degree and license as a Registered Nurse from the University of Texas Nursing School in Houston. She then worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for several years as an Oncology Nurse. Ava's passion and lifelong desire was to be in live theater. As an actress, she performed in numerous community theater venues in Houston and Southwestern Louisiana. While in Houston, she also volunteered with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council where she served in various roles including Service Unit Manager. Later in life, Ava and Jim traveled throughout the U.S. in their motor home, taking in the natural wonders of our beautiful country, visiting nearly every state, plus Mexico and Canada. Ava is survived by husband, James F. Mingo; daughters Stephanie vonBodungen (G. Mark), Natasha Serrano (Alberto) and Elizabeth Mingo; grandchildren Travis James vonBodungen (Shira), Rachel Marie and Gustave Nicholas vonBodungen, Jason Dominic and Elliott Theodore Serrano; great-grandchildren Laura Avanel and Gustave Wilhelm vonBodungen; siblings Maureen E. Wimberly, Christine W. Bampton (Ross), Patricia A. Wimberly, Elaine W. Bernhard (Kenny), Michael L. Wimberly, Paul B. Wimberly (Michelle); and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. Ava will be remembered as a selfless caregiver who never hesitated to help family or friends in need. Even in death, she was committed to helping others and has donated her body to science through University of California San Diego. No funeral services will be held. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Scripps Health Foundation, Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center Greatest Needs fund. Online donations can be made at https://donate.scripps.org/giving/scrippshealth.