Ava Lowle Willing (Sept 15, 1868–June 9, 1958) was early American socialite and the first wife of John Jacob Astor IV. Ava was born in Philadelphia, PA to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Shippen Willing, of the prominent Pennsylvania family. John Astor IV and Madeleine Astor Colonel John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was a businessman, inventor, writer and a member of the prominent Astor family. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Ava and John Jacob married on May 1, 1891 in Philadelphia. The newlywed couple was given, among many lavish gifts, a furnished townhouse on New York City's posh 5th Avenue. Together, they had two children, William Vincent Astor (b. Nov 15, 1891) and Ava Alice Muriel Astor (b. Feb 1902). Vincent Astor by Benjamin N. Duke William Vincent Astor (November 15, 1891, New York, New York, United States - February 3, 1959) was a businessman and philanthropist and a member of the prominent Astor family. ...

On Nov 19, 1909, Ava sued John Jacob for divorce and Mar 5, 1910 the State of New York decreed in favor of Mrs. Astor. Their son Vincent, lived with his father before leaving to attend Harvard College. Their daughter Alice, would be raised by her mother and would become a centerpoint in a long and difficult custody battle. In the second year of Vincent's education, John Jacob became one of the RMS Titanic casualties while returning from his honeymoon with his new bride, Madeline. This event left young Vincent as one of the wealthiest men in the United States. Harvard Yard Harvard College is the undergraduate section and oldest school of Harvard University, having been founded in 1636. ... For other uses, see Titanic. ...

In 1911, Ava and her daughter moved to England where she would eventually marry, Thomas Lister, Lord Ribblesdale, in 1919. The Lord Ribblesdale died on October 21, 1925. Ava had no children from her second marriage and she would never re-marry. She continued to be known as the Lady Ribblesdale until her death on June 9, 1958 in New York City.

Ava left a token bequest to her son, Vincent, but the bulk of her estate of was left to her daughter's four children.