Elizabeth Ann Davies Dyer passed away peacefully at Lake Prince Woods in Suffolk, Virginia on May 30, 2023.
“Ann” was born in Girardville, PA on January 10, 1933, to the late Russell Charles Davies and Verda Mae Payne Davies, owners and operators of Payne’s Flower Shop there. She is also predeceased by her step-father, Charles Dean Yoder and her husband of 39 years, Cdr. Nathaniel “Skip” Brown Dyer, Jr., Ret.
Ann graduated in Pennsylvania from Girardville High School, Class of 1950, and from Abington Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1953 where she began her care in the Maternal Delivery Room. After working as a Visiting Nurse for Abington’s Montgomery County Public Health Department in 1955, she continued to remain active as an Obstetrics RN at Kleberg County Hospital, Kingsville, Texas in 1957, a Substitute School Nurse with Virginia Beach Public Schools in 1976, as Charge Nurse at Medi-Center Long Term Care Virginia Beach in 1977 and at Mt. Vernon Virginia Long Term Care in 1980, and as Staff Nurse at Camelot Hall Long Term Care Virginia Beach in 1981. She also enjoyed volunteering for Navy Relief in 1971-72 and the Red Cross in 1983-84.
Ann embraced life as a Navy wife, approaching each transfer of duty station as a true adventure. Having resided in Kingsville, Texas, Key West, Florida, San Diego, California, Newport, Rhode Island, Alexandria, Virginia, and a longtime resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia, she fully embodied the spirit of “Home is Where the Heart Is”! A loyal and dedicated spouse, Ann was the epitome of support from Skip’s Naval Academy graduation in 1956 and throughout 9 Mediterranean cruises, to standing beside him as a proud VF-41 Commanding Officer’s Wife in 1974. In addition to creating life-long friendships through the Navy, she was a devoted mother of two children, Susan and Bill, and adored her grandchildren, Caroline, Nathan, and Emily.
Ann’s beloved pastimes included many road trips to her family cottage at Buery’s Grove in Pennsylvania, working at Talbot’s Dress Shop from 1987-91, creating needlepoint and knitted works of art, and participating as an active member with the Tidewater Antiques & Arts Association. She found great strength and hope living by the Al-Anon principles, having helped not only herself but many others as well. She loved walking, gardening and, later in life, discovered the benefits of Tai-Chi.
Ann’s memory will be cherished by her children, Susan Dyer Lambert and son-in law Randy Lee Lambert of Virginia Beach, VA, William “Bill” Russell Dyer and partner Karen Pener of Suffolk/Smithfield, VA, and her grandchildren, Caroline Elizabeth Lambert of New York City, Nathan Russell Dyer of Alexandria, Virginia and Emily Anne Dyer of Goldsboro, NC. They all wish to thank the staff of Atria Senior Living – Virginia Beach, Lake Prince Woods – Suffolk, and Trinity Hospice for their tremendous support and guidance.
Ann will be privately interred in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date, with a Celebration of Life in Virginia Beach, VA forthcoming.
