I’m so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. We were friends and worked together at Baskin Robbins on Pueblo and Jefferson. It was good to see him over the years. May God bless him and his Family.
So very to hear about Alex Mingus, we became friends in 10th grade typing class. He sat with Doug Rowser and me, we had a lot of fun in that class. I really never learned to type well. Al was always a genuinely lovely human being. We talked last year and talked about getting together with Doug and Jim Saunders but it didn’t happen. Mary Jarschke
See Napa Valley Register obituaries June 10, 2019 for the story on Al (below). He died May 13, 2019 in Woodland, CA at age 70. A memorial service will be at 3 pm June 15 at Grace Church of Napa Valley.
1949—2019
Alexander Edgar Mingus passed away on Monday, May 13th, 2019 in Woodland, CA at the age of 70.
Al was born on Monday, January 10th, 1949 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia to William Harry Mingus, from the United States, and Selma Jean (Forsyth) Mingus, from Australia. He immigrated to the United States around the age of 6 and then returned back to Australia a couple years later. Al returned to the United States when he was around 12 to attend Silverado Junior High and then attended Napa High School. After graduating in 1967, he joined the United States Navy where he graduated from the US Navy HVAC School and did two tours of duty during the Vietnam War on the USS Sample (DE-1048). While serving in the Navy, he married his high school sweetheart Edie Purdy in November of 1968.
After serving in the Navy, Al got his AA Degree in Criminal Justice from the Napa Valley Community College and joined the Napa Police Department where he served for 28 years. 17 year of those years were running the K-9 unit where he had several four-legged partners such as Judd, Beau, and Maro.
Upon retirement, he got his electrician’s license, from the California State License Board, and started A E M Electrical Service near Woodland, CA. He also volunteered aboard the WWII Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien which is currently docked near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
Al is preceded by his parents William Harry Mingus and Selma Jean (Forsyth) Mingus. He is survived by his children Craig Mingus and Natalie (Mingus) Fletcher. His son-in-law Cal Fletcher. His grandchildren Marques Mingus, Hunter Fletcher, and Alexandria Fletcher. His ex-wife Edie Mingus, ex-mother-in-law Bea Purdy, plus several relatives in Australia.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 15th at 3 pm at Grace Church of Napa Valley (3765 Solano Avenue, Napa, CA, 94558). Police Chaplain, Lee Shaw, will preside over the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the SS Jeremiah O’Brien at https:/www.ssjeremiahobrien.org.
Al and I met at Silverado Junior High where we became close gymn class buddies. We transferred together to Napa High School, but ended up on separate class schedules, so gradually lost touch. One day, many years later, I was driving down Browns Valley Road, and saw a wrecked car that had just ran off the road and hit a tree. I pulled over to give assistance, and the badly injured young man in the VW bug identified himself as Al Mingus's son. He was able to give me his Dads phone number, and I called. This was the first time that Al and I had spoken in decades, and when I told him what had happened, he thanked me and came right down to the scene. Someone else had already reported the accident, so the EMT's were already there when Al drove up, grasped my hand, and thanked me for calling, as he hurried directly to his injured son. Again, years later, I was standing in my photo shop on 3rd Street, and I noticed Al coming out of Nations Burgers across the street. He noticed me too, and came over. We talked for a while about old times, then again, went our separate ways. So, this was a friendship that went decades without contact, and was based on very little really, but we still were old gymn class buddies from Silverado, just checking in.
Steve Logan
I’m so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. We were friends and worked together at Baskin Robbins on Pueblo and Jefferson. It was good to see him over the years. May God bless him and his Family.
Mary Jarschke
So very to hear about Alex Mingus, we became friends in 10th grade typing class. He sat with Doug Rowser and me, we had a lot of fun in that class. I really never learned to type well. Al was always a genuinely lovely human being. We talked last year and talked about getting together with Doug and Jim Saunders but it didn’t happen. Mary Jarschke
Betty McCormick (Malmgren)
See Napa Valley Register obituaries June 10, 2019 for the story on Al (below). He died May 13, 2019 in Woodland, CA at age 70. A memorial service will be at 3 pm June 15 at Grace Church of Napa Valley.
1949—2019
Alexander Edgar Mingus passed away on Monday, May 13th, 2019 in Woodland, CA at the age of 70.
Al was born on Monday, January 10th, 1949 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia to William Harry Mingus, from the United States, and Selma Jean (Forsyth) Mingus, from Australia. He immigrated to the United States around the age of 6 and then returned back to Australia a couple years later. Al returned to the United States when he was around 12 to attend Silverado Junior High and then attended Napa High School. After graduating in 1967, he joined the United States Navy where he graduated from the US Navy HVAC School and did two tours of duty during the Vietnam War on the USS Sample (DE-1048). While serving in the Navy, he married his high school sweetheart Edie Purdy in November of 1968.
After serving in the Navy, Al got his AA Degree in Criminal Justice from the Napa Valley Community College and joined the Napa Police Department where he served for 28 years. 17 year of those years were running the K-9 unit where he had several four-legged partners such as Judd, Beau, and Maro.
Upon retirement, he got his electrician’s license, from the California State License Board, and started A E M Electrical Service near Woodland, CA. He also volunteered aboard the WWII Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien which is currently docked near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
Al is preceded by his parents William Harry Mingus and Selma Jean (Forsyth) Mingus. He is survived by his children Craig Mingus and Natalie (Mingus) Fletcher. His son-in-law Cal Fletcher. His grandchildren Marques Mingus, Hunter Fletcher, and Alexandria Fletcher. His ex-wife Edie Mingus, ex-mother-in-law Bea Purdy, plus several relatives in Australia.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 15th at 3 pm at Grace Church of Napa Valley (3765 Solano Avenue, Napa, CA, 94558). Police Chaplain, Lee Shaw, will preside over the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the SS Jeremiah O’Brien at https:/www.ssjeremiahobrien.org.
Jim Pryts
Al and I met at Silverado Junior High where we became close gymn class buddies. We transferred together to Napa High School, but ended up on separate class schedules, so gradually lost touch. One day, many years later, I was driving down Browns Valley Road, and saw a wrecked car that had just ran off the road and hit a tree. I pulled over to give assistance, and the badly injured young man in the VW bug identified himself as Al Mingus's son. He was able to give me his Dads phone number, and I called. This was the first time that Al and I had spoken in decades, and when I told him what had happened, he thanked me and came right down to the scene. Someone else had already reported the accident, so the EMT's were already there when Al drove up, grasped my hand, and thanked me for calling, as he hurried directly to his injured son. Again, years later, I was standing in my photo shop on 3rd Street, and I noticed Al coming out of Nations Burgers across the street. He noticed me too, and came over. We talked for a while about old times, then again, went our separate ways. So, this was a friendship that went decades without contact, and was based on very little really, but we still were old gymn class buddies from Silverado, just checking in.