Ann Winslow Young

Ann Winslow Young, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, card player, bargain hunter, prankster, and enthusiastic socializer, lived 89 years with a wonderful combination of warmth, generosity, curiosity, and just enough mischief to keep everyone around her on their toes.
Ann passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026.
Ann was born on February 4, 1937, in Big Spring, Texas, to Art and Marie Winslow. She grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1955, where she was Homecoming Queen. 
She went on to North Texas State College, where she joined Chi Omega and began what would become a lifelong appreciation for good friends, good conversation, and a good time.
While at North Texas, Ann met the love of her life, Seth Young. They married on November 30, 1957, and began a life together that would take them to Southside Place (Houston). 
There they raised their three children, Laura, Allan and Andy, and lived there for nearly 60 years. 
Ann and Seth’s family grew to include 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way, all of whom brought her tremendous pride and joy.
Family was at the heart of Ann’s life, and she had a particular talent for keeping everyone connected. She was the persistent and enthusiastic host of family reunions, bringing everyone together again and again. 
Before one reunion was over, Ann was already thinking about the next. She loved having her family around her and took great pleasure in making sure there was always another occasion on the calendar to bring family together. 
Ann was never one to sit around waiting for life to come to her. She was always ready to go somewhere, meet someone for lunch, or find a reason to celebrate. If there was a luncheon, happy hour, dinner, party, tea, shower, or just about any other excuse to get together, Ann could find a way to be there. 
She loved games of all kinds – Bridge, Canasta, Mexican Train – you name it, she’d play. She played tennis from high school until her knees finally told her that they had other plans. She had a lifelong crush on Elvis, because, in Ann’s view, some things simply never go out of style.
She was involved in the Southside Place Civic Club, PTA, St. John’s Guild Shop, City Club, Heritage Society, and the Salvation Army, and was a dedicated room mom, team mom, and Girl Scout mom. She was also a member of her beloved bridge club, affectionately known as the Rubbermaids. 
But perhaps most notable was Ann’s remarkable ability to make friends and keep them. She loved her gal pals and was the creator of more than a few pranks, much to the delight—and occasional consternation—of those around her. 
But for all of her fun and good-natured antics, Ann was also deeply kind and generous. She was the person who brought a meal when someone needed one, offered a helping hand without being asked, and made people feel welcome. She had a gift for friendship that came naturally to her.
Her grandchildren knew another side of Ann: the grandmother who loved making “cookadoodles” with them, taking them to Hermann Park, Chuck E. Cheese, and all kinds of outings. She delighted in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and creating the kinds of memories that stay with a family long after childhood has passed.
Ann was also a professional garage-sale shopper, master negotiator, antique collector, and, eventually, an antique dealer. She could spot a bargain from a considerable distance and was known as the undisputed queen of the Bakery Thrift Store. 
What some saw as junk, Ann saw as treasures just waiting to be discovered. And even better than a good price was free. She had a special talent for seeing value in something found. Furniture, household items, and even satellite dishes abandoned on the side of the road could catch her eye and suddenly find a new purpose. 
If it was sitting there for the taking, Ann was likely to take it—and she usually knew exactly what she was going to do with it. She loved the hunt, the bargain, and most of all, the satisfaction of turning someone else’s castoffs into something worth keeping.
She is survived by her sister, Martha Stroube and husband Bill; her children, Laura (Doug) Kaspar, Allan (Renee) Young, and Andy (Veronica) Young; 11 grandchildren, Christopher (Ciera) Kaspar, Kyle Kaspar, Rebecca (Ross) Mitchell, Seth Young, Lance (Nicole) Young, Julia (Diego) Garcia, Mark Young, Amy Young, Stephen (Kate) Young, Will (Lizzy) Young, and Mary Kate (Charlie) Scott; 11 great-grandchildren; and the many friends and family members who were fortunate enough to share in her life.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Seth Young; her parents, Art and Marie Winslow; and her sister, Nancy Winslow. 
Ann’s life was not about taking herself too seriously. It was about loving her family, keeping good friends, playing one more hand, finding a bargain, enjoying a meal, pulling off a good prank, and always being ready for whatever fun might come next. 
She will be deeply missed—and if there happens to be a particularly good garage sale, card game, or lunch somewhere, we have no doubt Ann will be there in spirit, negotiating the price and asking what time everyone is getting together.
The family would like to thank all her caregivers over the last few years, especially her Family Hospice nurses and the CNAs, nurses and staffs in memory care and skilled nursing in Greenville, SC, who cared for and loved her so well. Ann felt that care and kept a smile on her face and a twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes.  
A service celebrating Ann’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 12 at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. in Houston, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor.
Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Divine or the Salvation Army of Houston- Women’s Auxiliary.