Ann Lanning

Ann Lanning passed peacefully on April 2nd 2026 at 96 years old. She was born in the Bronx, NY on July 28 2029 to Ella Goldberg Sonkin and the renowned physicist Simon Sonkin. She lived and thrived and made the world a better place from both coasts.

She is survived by her sister Rhoda , Rhoda's two children Dan and Linda , three of her children Hilary, Ron and Rick , and two grandsons, Casey L Hook and Simon J Barrows. She is predeceased by daughter Elizabeth in 2008.

Mom was an early Stanford graduate. While there she met and married then Bob Bolles in 1952 . They lived in Berkeley where Hilary was born and then moved to the east coast where Bob taught psychology at Rutgers , Princeton and Hollins college in Roanoke, Virginia. Teaching zoology and botany to the women college students at Hollins was a rewarding challenge. In 1966 the family of six all moved across the country to settle in Seattle where Bob taught at the UW. After divorcing in 1972, Ann returned to get her teaching certificate and taught high school science at Rainier Beach high school. In 1973 she married Norm Lanning and had many fun adventures until their divorce.

Ann was very active with the Unitarian church from 1985 until the pandemic made it harder to travel. She worked on the newsletters back when paper was sent via snail mail . She did taxes for h&r block for many years, and did taxes for Hearthstone residents with the AARP IRS program for many years. Teaching tax preparers and making that process less daunting for many was something that gave her purpose.

An avid gardener, Ann was involved in the Picardo pea patch for 30 years.

Mom also volunteered for 20 years at the Discover thrift shop that benefited the local cancer society until it closed in 2012. In addition to working in the shop, she did much of the sewing and repairs.

In 2015 mom made the huge decision to downsize her home and move into the vibrant community of the Hearthstone. She was involved with many of the things that are offered here. From current events and book groups to gardening, theater and museum field trips. More recently the Friday sings gave her pleasure. Even in the last few years when Mom had significant health challenges and increasing cognitive decline she still was feisty! She would say exactly what she thinking, no filters! It was important to her to try to learn people's names particularly aides and servers because she felt strongly that everyone deserves respect.

The celebration of her life will be at the Hearthstone chapel 3 p.m. on Sunday May 3rd. Please come and share some of your reminiscences. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Planned Parenthood, or the Democratic party, 2 of the many favorite recipients of her ongoing activism.