Ann Huddleston

Ann Huddleston, age 90, of Grants Pass, died Monday, December 20, 2010 at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 23, 2010 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center with Bishop Jeff Elseth officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

She was born Ruth Ann Wilkins February 2, 1920 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Alexander Buriah Wilkins and Eve Jaquosa (Robinson) Wilkins the third of five children and the first girl. When the Great Depression spread over the country, the family migrated to Salt Lake City, Utah and then finally settled in Oakland, California where Ann attended Oakland Technical High School. When World War II began she became one of those famous women referred to as “Rosie the Riveter” helping to build fighters in Alameda, California. In 1943 she married Charles William “Bill” Huddleston and moved to Eureka, California where he patrolled the beaches serving in the United States Coast Guard. Following the war, their daughter, Sharon was born and the family moved to Oklahoma. Three years later they returned to California where their son, Steven was born.

Ann worked at many jobs throughout her life and always was an energetic and hard worker. She finally retired from Crown Zellerbach in Antioch, California. After the children were raised, Bill and Ann enjoyed their retirement traveling in their motor home visiting their children and grandchildren. After Bill passed away in 1996 she moved to Salt Lake City and then relocated to Grants Pass, Oregon to be near her beloved grandson, Darren Huddleston and his family. She had many friends and would light up a room just by being there.

The loves of her life was her family and church. She loved being in the company of family. She reached her goal of turning 90 this year surrounded by those near and dear to her. Many of her favorite things included packing and unpacking to move to a new home or to visit relatives, reading, making things with her hands, laughing and sharing her love with those around her. She was passionate about genealogy and was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She will be so missed by her two children, Sharon Warren and husband John of Grants Pass, Oregon and Steven Huddleston and wife Vicki of Naples, Florida; a grandson, Darren Huddleston and wife Heidi of Grants Pass; two granddaughters, Tahnee Benson and husband Rod of Nashville, Tennessee and Deanne Andringa and husband Gordon of Charlotte, North Carolina; stepgrandchildren, Craig Liedell and wife Tara of Denver, Colorado, Sarah Geiger and husband Stephen of Temecula, California and John C. Warren of New York City; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters.