Ann Riker Wood Stopper
SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - Ann Riker Wood Stopper passed away Sunday (Aug. 10, 2008) in her home in Sun City West. She was born Oct. 7, 1929 in Orange, N.J., to Florence (Fox) and Donald B. Riker. She lived in Maplewood, N.J., graduated from Columbia High School, Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and SUNY Geneseo in New York.
She married Robert E. Wood Jr. and lived in Alfred, N.Y. for over 35 years, where their son, Marc, grew up. Bob and Marc predeceased Ann. She married William Stopper of Alfred in 1992. They lived in Colorado and Arizona. He has also predeceased Ann. Ann worked as director of social services in Wellsville and Hornell, N.Y., the last at Bethesda Hospital.
Throughout her life she enjoyed reading, music, swimming, fishing, canoeing, the violin, gardening, auctions, digging fossils, playing bridge, traveling, and volunteering in museums in Florida and Arizona. She was a member of the DAR and the Desert Garden United Church, where she was part of the Care Ministries.
She is survived by a sister, Lynn Gignac; nieces, Jill Hanson and Amy Brady; nephews, John Gignac, David Gignac, and Bobby Long; great-nieces, Samantha and Emily Brady; and her faithful cat, Beauregard.
She will be buried in Pennsylvania with Bob and Marc Wood at the convenience of her family.