Annie Kelch
June 24, 1919 ~ February 12, 2011 (age 91) 91 Years OldShare using:
Annie Lennie Cunningham Kelch was born in St. Louis , Missouri on the 24th of June in 1919 to Jefferson Cunningham and Dora Graven Cunningham. She was the eldest of three children – her sister Margaret, a brother who died in infancy and she. Annie attended St. Louis public schools and continued her education, graduating from business college.
Her family came to California when she was quite young, residing in Manhattan Beach for several years. When she was a young adult and after her mother’s untimely death her father, Margaret and she returned to California, residing in Hermosa Beach. She was employed as an underwriter with Pacific Life Insurance Company in Los Angeles until she enlisted in 1943 in the Women’s Army Corps from which she was discharged in 1946. After the war she returned to Pacific Life.
It was while living in Hermosa that she met and married Albert Kelch, who had served in the Merchant Marines during the war. They traveled extensively while Al pursued a career in landscape painting in several media, at one time having studios in Torrance and Laguna Beach.
In the early 1970’s her sister Margaret and they found Julian and bought property, Annie and Al residing on 2nd Street and Margaret building a home several miles out of town.
The Kelchs became very active in the Julian American Legion. Annie continuing her active affiliation until several years ago when health and age forced her to reluctantly sell and move nearer relatives and medical facilities.
She is survived by cousins Evelyn Gribben of El Cajon, Pat Cunningham of Manhattan Beach and William Cunningham of Redlands.
A graveside service is to be held in Julian Haven of Rest Cemetery at 11am on Saturday, March 12th. The Julian American Legion Post will officiate. She is to be interred beside her husband Albert and next to her sister Margaret, with whom she was very close.
For anyone wishing to recognize Annie’s life, the family encourages them to consider the Legion Post or the Julian Cemetery rather than flowers.
Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service is assisting the family.
