Ann Tanner Slater passed peacefully on Thursday, December 9, 2021 in Loudoun County, Virginia.  Born in Glendale, CA on May 25, 1929, she spent most of her early life in California living with her parents, Harry L. and Ann S. Tanner and her younger brother, Stephen.  During the early stages of World War II, her mother took Ann and Stephen to live with family in Bozeman, Montana while Ann's father went off to serve his country.  Following the end of the war, the family moved back to California.

In the fall of 1947, Ann headed back to Bozeman where she enrolled in Montana State College (now University) where she majored in physical education.  While at Montana State, Ann joined the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and was an active member for four years, and she also participated in many other campus activities while there.

Following graduation from MSC in 1951, Ann was hired by the Barstow, California public school system to teach P.E.  When she wasn't in the classroom, she enjoyed going to San Diego's beautiful beaches and also traveling throughout the western United States as well as Hawaii.  Her most memorable trip however came in the summer of 1954 when she and several friends boarded the Queen Mary ocean liner and travelled to Europe for six weeks.  Ann loved to tell stories about this trip for the rest of her life.

While visiting San Diego in 1955, Ann met her future husband, 1/LT Richard "Dick" Slater, a Marine Corps officer stationed at Camp Pendleton.  In January of 1956, they were married in the Base Chapel at Camp Pendleton and started their life together.  Over the next seven years, they would travel back and forth between California and Virginia as Dick followed his Marine Corps career.  During this time, they also started a family with son Scott coming first, followed by daughter Kim, son Gregg and daughter Debbie.   Dick retired from the Marine Corps in 1965 and the family finally settled down in the Stratford Landing area near Mt. Vernon.  With four children in school, Ann decided to become a stay-at-home mother, thus ensuring all four would become successful adults.

When her children entered high school, Ann became a volunteer at the former Ft. Hunt High School.  She was also an ardent supporter of the athletic program at the school.  Known affectionately by staff and students alike as "Mom Slater", Ann was a well-known fixture at the school for many years and received many accolades for her efforts.

Sadly, Dick passed away suddenly in 1980 and Ann was left to raise Gregg and Debbie on her own.  As with everything in her life though, she persevered and moved forward, successfully overcoming this challenge as if it were just a small bump in the road.  Once all of the children had graduated college and moved on, Ann took on a number of hobbies however her favorite was cross-stitching.  She became very accomplished at this craft, working on commissioned pieces and even winning several awards for work.  A life-long dog lover, Ann also enjoyed taking care of her dogs throughout her later years.

Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband Dick and daughter Kim.  She is survived by her other children Scott (Sharon), Gregg (Daria), and Debbie (Jim), six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions can be made to the Fisher House Foundation ( www.fisherhouse.org ), which builds comfort homes and lodging where military families can stay free of charge while their loved one is in the hospital.

A grave-side service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a time and date to be determined.  Please check back at this website for more information as it becomes available.