Anne France Ansel died in Annapolis, MD on March 18, 2016. Mrs. Ansel was born on June 19, 1922 in Panama, where her father was stationed. The daughter of Rear Admiral Albert Finley France III and Ruth Claude France, she lived in various coastal towns of the United States while growing up, but also spent a great deal of time in Annapolis, MD, the home of her maternal grandparents , Dr. Gordon Handy Claude and Sophia Worthington Claude and the extended Claude family. Mrs. Ansel graduated from Holton Arms School in Bethesda, MD and attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She worked in the art department of the U. S. Office of Education (now the U. S. Department of Education), and later was a stewardess for United Airlines. On June 28, 1947 she married Ensign David Dyer Ansel, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1947. As the wife of a career Naval officer, Mrs. Ansel made a home for her family in a variety of locations, among them: Monterey, CA; Morocco, North Africa; Norfolk, VA; Chincoteague, VA; Newport, RI; and Annapolis, MD. For each move she oversaw the re-location of furniture and household goods, and made this all seem easy, keeping her children (and pets) calm and carefree. Throughout most of her life, Mrs. Ansel continued her interest in art, working in oil and watercolor. She was also an excellent seamstress, making stylish wardrobes for herself and her children at a time when play clothes, school clothes, and church clothes were all necessary. She loved dogs (and the occasional cat). Settling for good in Annapolis when Captain Ansel retired in 1972, the Ansels lived for 20 years in a house overlooking Rideout Creek, later moving to a house on Prince George Street. Mrs. Ansel stayed active by working at the Ivy Shop on Main Street and later volunteering at the Hammond-Harwood House Gift Shop. She loved sailing with her husband on the Chesapeake aboard their various sail boats (all named "Miss Anne"). When they took a long trip down the inland waterway, Captain Dave kept the daily boat log while First Mate Anne painted water colors in her sketch book of scenes along the way, at minimum making sure to capture the Miss Anne's anchorage at the end of each day. Mrs. Ansel's husband, David D. Ansel, Captain, USN (ret.), died March 7, 2013. She is also pre-deceased by her parents and her brother, A. Finley France IV. Mrs. Ansel is survived by her four children and their spouses: Caroline Ansel (Gary Litchfield); Eleanor Kennedy (Donald Kennedy); Ruth Ansel (Blair Ferguson); and David D. Ansel, Jr. (Karen Aleman-Ansel) and seven grandchildren: Daniel Williams (Mary); Anne Willliams; Eric Elster; Annabel Ferguson; Thomas Ferguson; Jane Ferguson Minneman (Michael); and Emily Ansel (Alex Cohan); and one great granddaughter (Regan Williams). There will be a memorial service at the U. S. Naval Academy Columbarium on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by John M. Taylor Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com