AnnaBelle Dunn

Surrounded by her family, AnnaBelle Dunn passed away peacefully at home on Sunday January 4th, after 87 wonderful years of a life, well lived- and well loved. 

She was born in San Angelo, Texas, to Denzel and Oren Fletcher. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Shirley Gavit; her brother, Dwain Fletcher, and her husband George Dunn. She is survived by her two daughters, Pam and her husband August Castellano, Rhonda and her husband Afton White and her brother Randy Fletcher, all of Odessa, Texas. 

In the 1950’s she proudly played on the first girls’ softball team in San Angelo as a second baseman and shortstop. She loved those early years-traveling with her teammates, laughing with friends, and collecting stories she would fondly revisit throughout her life.

AnnaBelle graduated from  Lake View High School and became a military bride when she married Ralph Mathews. Together, they welcomed two daughters, Pam and Rhonda.

Later in life, AnnaBelle spent more than 20 years s an active member of the Wool Capitol Region Antique Car Club, enjoying road trips, camping adventures, parades, and leisurely drives. She retired from Ethicon after a career marked by commitment and pride.

AnnaBelle was endlessly creative. She loved crafting so much that she devoted an entire house to it. Sewing, upholstery, painting, and helping her sister Shirley with craft projects brought her great joy – especially the time spent together. She found happiness in creating things by hand and sharing that joy with others.

She was the kind of woman whose door was always open and whose home was filled with warmth, laughter, and the unmistakable comfort of being welcome. She showed her love through food, and she knew her way around the kitchen. From homemade gravy, breads, sauces, baked goods and jellies to fresh side salads often made with tomatoes from her garden, everything was made with care. (Almost everything, anyway- the family will always smile at the memory of discovering the brownies weren’t homemade after all.)

She had an amazing sense of humor and quick wit that could lighten any moment. Laughter followed her wherever she went, and she never missed an opportunity to those around her smile. Her joy was especially evident when she was surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved more than anything in this world. They were her greatest pride, her deepest joy, and her most treasured blessing.

No one was ever truly “safe” when she had a camera in her hand- a role she took very seriously. She loved capturing life as it happened, preserving memories one candid photo at a time. Those pictures now stand as a testament to her love for family and her desire to hold on to every precious moment on a Facebook platform she never really got the hang of. If you were reading her comments in all capital letters she wasn’t yelling...she was just really excited. She spent hours at her computer playing POGO games, emailing recipes, and meticulously organizing photos she captured with her camera. If the computer or the internet wasn’t working, it was nothing short of an emergency.

She loved movies-especially Hallmark movies- and faithfully watched her collection of VHS tapes long after VCRs were considered obsolete. She delighted in sharing them with anyone willing to sit and watch. Her grandchildren have special memories of being allowed one of her many special trats, like drinking milk from tiny champagne glasses, refilled again and again, because she believed even the simplest moments should feel special.

AnnaBelle’s legacy lives on in the laughter she shared, the meals she prepared, the memories she captured, the crafts she created, and the deep love she poured not her family. She was simply put, the best- and she will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

She leaves behind a beautiful family, including seven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Life will be held on January 16th, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church, 4020 E. University Blvd, Odessa, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Angels Home Hospice in Odessa, Texas, so they may continue caring for others with the same compassion and dignity they showed AnnaBelle.

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