Annabelle B. Compton, of Wilmington, died peacefully Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Commons at Brightmore. She was 98.
Born June 15, 1916, to Lloyd L. and Nellie Krows Burton in Arcola Ill., she married Frank C. Compton in St. Louis on Oct. 26, 1940. She retired in 1976 from her position as administrative assistant in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Champaign, Ill. for 46 years until she joined the First Baptist Church in Wilmington, where she moved in 1996 to be with her family.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Frank (Oct. 29, 1977), by her parents and by her brother, Gladson Burton and her sisters, Bernadine Martin and Louise Pickett.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen A. Smith and husband, Douglas D. Smith, of Wilmington; two loving granddaughters, Lisa K. Gregory and husband, Henry D. Gregory V, of Catonsville Md. and Deborah A. Horne and husband, James, of Wilmington; five great-grandchildren, Kimberly Gregory, Kristin Horne, Henry Gregory VI, Noah Gregory and James Michael Horne; a niece, Jerilynn Hampton; and many friends.
Affectionately known to her family as “Spunky,” Ann enjoyed following Illini basketball and televised professional golf. She worked as a hospital volunteer in Champaign after her retirement until she moved to Wilmington at age 80 and continued to volunteer in the oncology unit at New Hanover Regional Medical Center until she was 94.
The family would like to thank the caregivers in the memory care unit at the Commons at Brightmore for their loving care.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, at First Baptist Church on the corner of 5th and Market St.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75231, in memory of her husband Frank or to the American Cancer Society in honor of the many patients she served.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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