Ann Dale Ives passed away peacefully on February 17, 2024, at the age of 85, after a long illness. Ann was born in Schenectady, New York on July 12, 1938. Her parents were Glenn and Elizabeth Dale. The family moved several times and settled in Syracuse, New York. Ann attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for two years and then transferred to Syracuse University to pursue her dream of teaching children in the elementary grades. She graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Ann met her husband, Jon, at a high school sorority dance in 1955, when Jon was home on Christmas leave from the US Naval Academy, where he was in his first year. With Ann at Syracuse University and Jon at the Naval Academy, they had limited opportunities to be together and continued their relationship by mail, eventually writing daily letters to one another. When Ann graduated, they were married in Syracuse, New York, on June 11, 1960. The Navy sent Jon to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, to study civil engineering and Ann taught second grade. Their first child, a daughter, Kimberly, was born in June 1961.
As a Navy wife, Ann went through frequent moves as Jon was transferred. The couple lived in Puerto Rico; Springfield, VA; Stanford University, CA; Port Hueneme, CA; Newport, RI; West Deptford, NJ; Alexandria, VA; China Lake, CA; Yokosuka, Japan; Alexandria, VA; and Pearl Harbor, HI. Ann taught school in Virginia, California, and Japan. A second daughter, Kirsten, was born in Puerto Rico in 1963, and a son, Jonathan, was born in Virginia in 1966. Ann was active in the Navy Wives Clubs in many locations and served as president of the Navy Wives in Port Hueneme.
When Jon retired from the Navy after 31 years, he and Ann moved to DeSoto, Texas, then San Francisco, CA, followed by Menlo Park, CA. In San Francisco, Ann served as co-chair of the Social Justice Committee at Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church and volunteered with the St. Anthony Foundation, serving meals for the homeless and needy. In 2001, they moved to Ventura, CA, their 27th home together, for retirement. Ann was active in Young Ladies Institute #160, a Catholic Women’s organization, serving as President for two years and a Trustee for many years. She also served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and volunteered with Many Meals to serve those in need.
In retirement, she and Jon were avid travelers, visiting the remaining wild places in the world: the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island, the Galapagos Islands, the Upper Amazon River, Machu Pichu, Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, the countries on the Baltic Sea, Australia, the islands in the Coral Sea, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and China. In her travels, Ann visited all seven continents.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Dr. Robert Dale. She is survived by her loving husband Jon, her daughter Kimberly (Douglas Knarr), her daughter Kirsten (Ray Roostaeyan), her son Jonathan (Sarah) and six grandchildren.
There will be a viewing at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, 757 East Main Street, Ventura, CA, at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 26th, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 pm. Her funeral will be at Our Lady of the Assumption, 3175 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA, at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 27th. Ann believed funerals should be a joyful celebration so the family will wear bright, happy colors and invites those planning to attend to do the same. The family also wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to Aegis Living of Ventura and Mission Hospice for their professional and compassionate care of Ann.