Anna Athanasiou Dean

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her…She will do him good…all the days of her life. Strength and honour are her clothing…She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of Kindness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31 V. 10-28 KJV

Anna Arthur Dean of Lynchburg passed from this earthly home into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Monday, May 4, 2015, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Anna was born in Hampton on August 17, 1944 to the late Anna Robinson Arthur and John Evange Lous Arthur. She was also preceded in death by her special brother, John Edwin Arthur in 1997.

Anna was a woman of great faith. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church on Floyd Street, ministered by the Rev. Steve Willis. Anna truly believed in loving one another as God has loved us.

During her childhood, Anna attended a number of schools, due to family relocations. These included schools in Washington, D.C., Lynchburg, and Norfolk, where she graduated from Granby High School in 1964. Long before she graduated, Anna held a number of interesting jobs. She worked as the secretary to Judge Bruce L. Smithwick in the city of Norfolk. And during the Vietnam War, she had a job coating the mailbags that held our soldiers mail from home, which was being targeted by the enemy. She was very proud of her unique contribution to the war effort. She never considered any job lowly, because she always gave it her best effort. In Lynchburg, she worked for the Commission on Aging and she loved getting to know the clients she helped. Anna worked at Mrs. Giles, the Colonial Restaurant, and as a cook at several area schools. She prepared tasty meals for the school children here and in San Diego, people lined up around the block to purchase the delicious food Anna prepared. One of Ann’s great talents was her artistic ability. Give her a model and she’d sketch you a great portrait. And she worked in many mediums. While seeking a simple form of therapy, Anna discovered an amazing aptitude for delicate ceramic art. She filled her friends’ homes with beautifully painted figurines of dogs, leprechauns, country maidens, vases, tankards, and mugs. She painted a gorgeous tankard depicting General Robert E. Lee and scenes from his battles for a dear friend, who was descended from General Lee. This work of art became his prize possession. Her art work won numerous prizes in juried art shows in Lynchburg. She used her talent to shower love on her friends.

When Ann’s mother, Ann Arthur became ill, Anna gave up everything and stayed with her, caring for her day and night, for six years until her mother’s death.

Anna met the love of her life, her soulmate, Charles Christopher Dean, shortly after New Year’s of 1993. He had just come here from England and they had an immediate attraction. The first thing Anna did was to greet Charles with a lovely smile and a warm “Welcome to America.” Charles had the good fortune to be represented during his citizenship process by Del. Robert Goodlatte. Anna and Charles were married Aug. 30, 1994 by Judge Mosby Perrow. During their life together, they have lived in San Diego, Bradenton, FL and since 2003, Anna’s favorite place of all, here in Lynchburg.

Having found each other late in life, Anna and Charles had a truly wonderful life together. Anna found a gentleman who was completely devoted to her, while Charles found the true love he was seeking, with the bonus of a family, which he’d never had before. Through all the ups and downs that life threw at them, they persevered, enjoying the simple things of life, like drives in the country, listening to classic jazz music-just being together. During the two years of Anna’s illness, Charles has been the most devoted husband, caring for her every need, with patience, humor, and most of all, unlimited love.

It is truly difficult to find the right words to describe our dear Anna. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. And Anna was everyone’s friend. She had such a big, generous, loving heart. She, who always had to struggle way more than most people do, was always the first to give her help and friendship to anybody who needed it. There was no guile in her heart. She always looked for the best in everyone she met. Her loving heart knew no other way to go about life. And when you look for the good in others, you’re much more likely to find it. Anna wore her heart on her sleeve and never regretted it. And all those who knew her and loved her are so grateful that she did lead with her heart. We’re all going to miss our dear Anna and that unconditional love she gave to us. Our loves have been so blessed by knowing and loving her.

Anna is survived by her beloved husband, Charles; her daughters, Crystal Crichton Cowart and husband Larry of Appomattox, Kimberly Crichton Booth and husband Scott, of Bradenton, FL; her grandchildren, Cameron Cowart, Colbey Cowart, Colin Thomas Cowart, Brock Chandler Booth, Skyler Anastasia Booth, Zac Booth, and Kay Walton; her sister, Glenna Honeycutt Bleam and husband Russell of Quakerstown, PA; her niece April Donohue and husband Jon and their daughter Sara of Kintnerville, PA; her nephew, Jeffrey A. Bleam and wife Mary of Silver Springs, MD; father of her children, Doug Crichton; beloved cousin, Tom Larkin of Lynchburg; best friend for 35 years, June Colbert; and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family wishes to thank Drs. Headley, Khoury, Armock and everyone who has been involved in Anna’s care, including Centra Hospice and all their wonderful people whose dedication and compassion allowed Anna to spend her last days at home. And a most loving thank you to Crystal Cowart, for taking a leave of absence from her nursing job to car for her mother.

Anna would like for everyone to know that they should not give up their fight against cancer. Though she was stricken with cancer of the adrenal gland-which only strikes one person in a million-she was able to survive for two years. Her family worked with her doctors but they did not stop there. Her daughter, Kim, diligently searched out alternative medicines, special diets, and any treatments that might help. Her family attributes Anna’s long survival of this dreaded form of cancer to everyone’s combined efforts and Anna’s spirit and determination to survive. Anna wanted her experiences to be known to help inspire others to be strong, not give up, to always trust in Jesus our Lord and to never lose faith in him.

A funeral service to celebrate Anna’s life will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Floyd Street, with Rev. Steven Willis officiating. Interment will follow at Spring Hill Memorial Park.