Annabelle C. Moss
July 30, 1921 - February 17, 2015

On January 17, 2015, a dear friend and our mother passed away at age 93. Her family's love surrounded her as did one of her many beloved caretakers.

Annabelle was born in Galesburg, Illinois on July 30, 1921. She attended college at Nebraska University; Ann was sworn into the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She received a Bachelors Art degree in teaching.

Ann met Arthur Washington Moss while she was selling Wallpaper in Chicago, Illinois and they married on September 7, 1946. Ann and Art moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1955, with their two daughters, Nikki and Claudia Moss. Art started an automobile business called Moss Motorama.

Their third daughter, Marcia Moss, was born in 1956. Ann stayed home and raised her three daughters. She believed in giving back to her community, and during her free time, volunteered for different organizations.

Ann volunteered at the State Home and Training School, she was an avid Republican and from 1967-1969 she held three offices, President, Secretary and Vice President.
Ann was involved in the Episcopal Church throughout her life in Grand Junction. In her 50's she started making prayer quilts for those in need at the church. She continued to quilt and was recognized in 2002 by the Colorado Quilting Council for creating and developing two successful quilt clubs in Grand Junction. She was president of Sunset Slope Quilting Club in 1994 and in 1999, President of the Monument Quilting Club.

Ann and Art were part of organizing the Bookcliff Country Club. In 1966, she won the Bookcliff Country Club Women's Golf Championship.

In 1972 she and Art started Colorado West Travel and Tours. They both ran the business until 1984. They traveled the world for 12 years.

It was in the 1940's, during World War II, that Ann had her and most exciting accomplishment. Ann joined The Women's Air Force Service Pilots (W.A.S.P.). She trained in Sweetwater, Texas and was stationed at Randolph Field. Ann went through a grueling period of basic training. 25,000 women applied, 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 graduated. Out of 112 women in Ann's class she was one of the 49 who graduated on March, 11,1944. Years later the WASPS were recognized. In 2002, Ann was interviewed by Wings Across America and was adopted by an ROTC member ship from Colorado Springs. In 2003, Ann presented an oral presentation on the WASP history to the Western Colorado Museum.

In 2009, at age 87, Ann traveled with her family to Washington D.C. to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This ceremony truly marked the recognition of the WASPS serving their country during WW II. In 2013, she was interviewed by Rocky Mountain PBS and was showcased in the Colorado Experience in a program called "Fly Girl".

In 2014, at age 93, Ann was interviewed by the Mesa County Library for an oral history of her experience as a woman in the military during WW II.

Her three daughters, two sons-in-law, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren survive her; as well as her sister's four children, whom she welcomed into her home, when her sister died, Brad, Mark, Lee and LuAnn Waldrep.

The services will be held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church March 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to St. Matthew's, 3888 27 1/2 Road Grand Junction, CO 81506.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Feb. 22, 2015