ANN FLATTEN
August 10, 1931 - July 29, 2022
Ann Louise (Cramer) Flatten passed away peacefully Friday morning, July 29, 2022, two weeks prior to her 91st birthday. Ann was born to Ralph Frederick Cramer and Dorothy Lillian (Ramsey) Cramer Stillman on August 10,1931, at Alta Vista Hospital, in the city of Los Angeles. Ann was the oldest of three children. She was predeceased by her brother, Richard Cramer, and sister Martha Roberts. Ann was also predeceased by her husband of nearly 55 years, Orris H. Flatten, her daughter, Karen Langhart, and her granddaughter, Erika Langhart. Ann is survived by her four sons, Eric Flatten, Michael Flatten, Gregory Flatten, and David Flatten, 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ann grew up in Laguna Beach, California. She graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1949. One of her first jobs was at Van de Kamp’s Bakery in Laguna Beach. Ann was a very bright student and went on to Pomona College, graduated in 1953, and began a teaching career. She met and married her one and only true love, a widower, Orris H. Flatten, and his twin baby sons. They soon had three children for a total of 5 children that were all 5 and under! Orris and Ann built their first home together in Fullerton in 1956. They built their second home in Yorba Linda and moved in 1961. The family was active in local politics and helped with the incorporation of the City of Yorba Linda. Life was remarkably busy as Ann volunteered as a 4-H Leader and helped with the family projects including showing animals at the Orange County Fair. She volunteered as a pregnant girls’ counselor, an early childhood counselor, and a member in the North Orange County League of Women Voters. Though she was an active volunteer, she enthusiastically shuttled her children to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, piano and dance lessons, drill team, and numerous sports practices and games. She enjoyed planning family vacations in their truck and camper and would travel all over the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The family visited “every state and all the National Parks this side of the Mississippi River.”
Ann served as a Board member on the Yorba Linda School District Board for many years in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. When the last of her children started high school, Ann went back to school at Cal State Fullerton and earned her Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 1973. With her Master’s degree, she worked for the Elementary and Jr. High Ontario-Montclair School District as a Principal. She was dedicated to helping people and improving education.
After Ann and her husband retired, they continued to travel extensively for the next 30 years and toured all 7 continents. They built their third and final house together in 1990, with the help of their daughter and local resident, Karen Langhart, in Durango, Colorado. Enjoying retirement in Durango, Ann contributed to her new community as president of the Adult Education Association and Durango’s Music in the Mountains. She started a year-round program in 1999 called Music in the Mountains Goes to School. This program helped to enhance the Durango School District’s music program. She enjoyed her service on the Durango School District’s Accountability Advisory Committee and the Facilities Committee. Ann continued to be active with the League of Women Voters in Durango, the American Association of University Women, the Durango Choral Society, and the Durango Club.
In 2014 Ann relocated to a retirement community, La Loma, in Arizona. She enjoyed many active years there and made several new friends while serving on various committees and boards. In 2020 Ann moved back to Southern California. She spent the rest of her days living with her son David and enjoying time closer to her family and friends in California.
The family is planning a Celebration of Life for Ann at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at the home of her son, David Flatten, 8900 Hillside Road, Alta Loma, CA 91737. Ann’s friends and family are invited to share loving memories and stories and Celebrate her Life that she very well lived.