Virginia Wingle, MD

During her life she researched, collected, and ate wild mushrooms. Constantly curious and often inscrutable, she loved life and was forever fascinated by its unfolding. She described dementia as akin to having a carpet roll up behind her in time, leaving her unable to access memories - to anything.

Ginny determined at an early age to care for others as a doctor, never veering from that path. She created a career she found intriguing, which ranged from making house calls and serving as “doctor on the hill” at Mt Hood OR, to taking a residency in anesthesia at University of Colorado, then working for twenty plus years as an anesthesiologist in Durango and Denver. In retirement she volunteered for the US Forest Service in Silverthorne, CO and Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden.

Ginny grew up mostly in Champaign-Urbana IL where dad William ran his business Brunkow Electric, and art teacher mother Marion ran the home. She was a devoted daughter and sometimes-mischievous older sister to sibs Jeanne(Teagarden) and Bill.

Frequently questioned by male counterparts about her motivation for pursuing medicine, she persevered and eventually found a home that accorded her professional respect and camaraderie at Rose Hospital in Denver. She successfully balanced an intense work schedule with time off to indulge her explorations of the larger world. After her first marriage ended, she met and married forester H Peter Wingle, with whom she shared a storied life for fourteen years.

She adored her three children.

Ginny passed away peacefully at Brookdale University Park, under the compassionate care of their staff and that of Bloom Hospice. She was preceded in death by son David Biska (1980). She is survived by children Linda B Drake (Larry) of Denver, Bill Wingle of Aztec NM, and three step-grandchildren and their families. A celebration of life will be held in September.