- Date Of Birth: January 23, 1919
- Date Of Death: May 26, 2014
- State: Arizona
Annabelle Lee Powell, 95 years, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2014. She was born January 23, 1919 in Ancon Canal Zone, Panama, a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. Her father originally from Minnesota, was called to work on the Panama Canal. At 2.5 years of age, Annabelle came to America with her family and was raised in the Mesa, Phoenix, Arizona, area.
She grew up during the Great Depression and was the 5th child of a family of 10. Preceding her in death are her parents, Benson Eugene Lee Sr. and Anna Theresa Lee. Five brothers Charles, Robert, Richard, Gardner, and Benson Jr. three sisters, Lydia, Etna, and Della. She has one surviving baby brother, George William Lee of Camp Verde, AZ.
Through great personal sacrifice, she worked her way into the very controversial world of women and the up and coming of Women’s Softball League. Annabelle managed to be a part of this wonderful experience from 1936 to 1941. She played for the A-1 Queens during this era, starting at Phoenix Union High School. In 2003 she was inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame and since then has attended yearly Softball Foundation Reunions in which she is a lifetime member. The reunion is headed by former Governor, Rose Mofford and Dot Wilkinson.
Prior to marriage, Annabelle worked at the Goodyear Airport as a head lead women in making airplanes during World War II. In 1946, she married Jess Powell who died in 1988. They had two daughters, Marsha Jean and Kathryn Lee and lived in Yuma, AZ. After 10 years, they moved to Flagstaff and lived there for 55 years. In 2012 she relocated to Prescott Valley, AZ with her daughter Marsha Jean and son in law Dale.
Annabelle was a very competitive bowler in Flagstaff. Truly dedicated, she highly excelled from 1957 to 2012. She was fondly called Sarge after being Sargent of Arms in the bowling association for several years. In 1984, she was inducted into the Flagstaff Women’s Bowling Association as the 1st woman in the Flagstaff Bowling Hall of Fame for Superior Performance, and she is also a lifetime member.
Annabelle worked and retired from WL Gore Wire and Cable in Flagstaff from 1970 to 1985. She was still receiving the Gore monthly newsletter and always felt a connection with the company and the impact it had on her life and family. She loved playing Solitaire, collecting coins, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, going to Curves for exercise, attending Casa Senior Center, also going to Bingo at the American Legion, which she is a Lifetime Auxiliary member. Her greatest love in her golden years was attending the local casino where she won over lots of friends and even a blue 2002 Mustang.
