Ruth Reads McDonald Vingiello

Ruth Reade McDonald Vingiello, M.D.



Dr. Vingiello, 88, the beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on June 22, 2012. A resident of Monroe since 1968, she grew up in Durham, NC.

She is survived by her daughter, Madeline Vingiello Mellinger, and her husband, Dr. Charles Mellinger, Ph.D., of Jupiter, FL; two sons, Arthur Vingiello, and his wife, Karen Sellers Vingiello, of Baton Rouge, and Paul Vingiello, and his wife, Shari Fletcher Vingiello, of Monroe; her grandchildren, Kevin Biemuller, Kim Burman, Andrew and Jonathan Mellinger; Sara, Tony, Michael and Alyssa Vingiello; and great-granddaughters, Harper Reade Burman and Catherine Reade Melugin.

She is also survived by her sister, Flora McDonald Dean, of Raleigh, NC; and her brother, Walter Neill McDonald and his wife, Joyce McDonald, of Louisburg, NC.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Prof. Frank A. Vingiello, Ph.D.; her parents, Arthur Allen McDonald, Sr. and Mary Reade McDonald; and her brother, Arthur A. McDonald, Jr., and sister, Alice McDonald Davis.

Dr. Ruth, as she was affectionately known to her many patients, nurses, staff, and fellow doctors, received her B.S. and M.D. from Duke University. From 1950 to 1968, she maintained a private pediatric practice in Blacksburg, VA, where she was the only pediatrician who made house calls. When she moved to Monroe with her husband, she served at E.A. Conway Memorial Hospital. She received her certification from the American Board of Pediatrics in 1974. She was named Medical Director of Region 8 of the Louisiana State Health Department from which position she retired in 1986. During her entire career, she held the deepest respect for her fellow health-care professionals, a respect which was returned.

She was an avid bridge player, voracious reader, talented seamstress and inspired gardener. Dr. Ruth was especially devoted to her black lab, Bella, who was her constant companion at her beautiful home on the bayou. She will be greatly missed by her loving family for whom she was a life-long role model.

The family thanks the many staff, nurses and doctors at St. Francis Hospital who cared for Dr. Ruth during her illness with special thanks to Drs. Jetha and Hubbard.

Visitation will be from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM on Monday, June 25, 2012, at Mulhearn Funeral Home on Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA. Funeral mass, conducted by Father Sebastian Kallarackal, will follow at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 1:00 PM.

Pallbearers are Jack Burman, Joe Melugin, Kevin Biemuller, Tony Vingiello, Carl Parker and Thomas Dickens.

Honorary Pallbearer is Michael Vingiello.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN, email donors@stjude.org, or made to the Ouachita Parish Public Library, 1800 Stubbs Ave., Monroe, LA.

Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home

Monroe, LA