Ann Wenzlau Crocker

Ann Crocker, 86, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 due to complications following heart surgery.

Ann was born in Owensboro, Kentucky to Sid and Margaret Wright. Raised in an idyllic town, Ann was surrounded by a lot of friends and relatives, including many cousins. She excelled in school, with math and science being her favorite subjects. Her father was an engineer and Ann inherited that keen mind and sense of curiosity about how things work. She loved accompanying her dad to his office to explore. She started college at Vanderbilt University, then transferred to San Diego State University when her family moved to CA, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Shortly afterwards, Ann met and married Chuck Wenzlau, and became a Navy wife, mom, and Cub Scout Den Mother. She returned to college while single handedly raising her children to pursue a degree in Architecture. Ann graduated from UT Arlington with highest honors and throughout her professional career, became a business owner of an interior design firm and construction company.

Ann was a longtime, active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas. She served on the Building Committee and was instrumental in the design and materials selection of the current building. She was also a Stephen Minister, providing counseling in a compassionate manner to members of her church family. Ann’s Sunday School class friends were like family to her.

Ann was a force to be reckoned with. By all appearances, she was petite, reserved, and stoic, but in fact Ann was determined, headstrong, competitive, and very smart. She enjoyed watching sports, especially football, baseball, and college basketball. Many Sunday afternoons were spent cheering on the Dallas Cowboys as they came from behind to victory late in the game. Ann had a passion for art as a spectator, and as a talented artist teaching oil painting classes in the 1970s. She learned to play bridge in the basement of her home as a child (taught by her mother during Girl Scout troop meetings), and played bridge throughout her lifetime. Many weekend nights included dinner and bridge with friends. She enjoyed traveling with her husband Ben as they made several trips to Europe. Late in life, Ann’s greatest joy was her two grandsons, Chuck and Steven. “Mimi” never missed any of their school, church, or Cub Scout milestones, and often vacationed with them, cherishing any opportunity for an adventure with “the boys!” One of her favorite field trips was a day trip to the Botanical Gardens. She loved the colorful foliage, especially the Japanese maples.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents Sidney and Margaret Wright; husband Ben Crocker; and former husband Charles Wenzlau; She is survived by her children Charlie Wenzlau (wife Janice), and Suzie Donskey (husband Steve); sister Peggy Laidlaw (husband Walt), and brother Sid Wright (wife Sandee); stepsons Ben Crocker (wife Beverly), and Steve Crocker; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Ann’s life will be Tuesday, April 11th at 10:00 AM, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1200 W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX 76013.
Her cremains will be interred in Tipp City, OH at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory can be made to the following:
Trinity United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX
St. Jude Hospital for Children, Memphis, TN
Scottish Rite Hospital, Dallas, TX