Anne Frances Sells Grimes
February 8, 1930 ~ May 31, 2023
Anne Frances Sells Grimes, of Mclean, Virginia, passed peacefully at her daughters home in Leesburg,VA. Born February 8, 1930, Frances was a Washingtonian for 57 years, and a native of Johnson City, Tennessee. She attended Agnes Scott College and graduated from East Tennessee State University with degrees in Mathematics and Physics.
Frances married Robert Doss, a naval aviator and raised three children while making new homes in the many cities in which they were stationed.
In 1966, Frances moved to McLean Virginia where she was an active member of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, and was heavily involved in the church in many roles over the years. One of her favorite projects involved the development and oversight of the Lewinsville Retirement Residence. She also took profound joy in being a part of the greater community and was involved in the McLean Orchestra and McLean Project for the Arts.
Frances loved a southern pie, but her pie of preference involved numbers 𝛑 . With her first-husband she co-founded an aviation technology firm where she ran its financial and business operations, and later returned to university earning a degree in Accounting.
Frances married Alton Grimes in 1979. She had a passion for the theatre, for travel and for helping others. Frances leaves a legacy for her children and grandchildren of her love for God, family, hard work and integrity.
She was on the boards of several companies, as well as a foundation she managed with her brother, Sam R. Sells, that continues to provide financial support for seminary students.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alton Grimes; parents Sam H. Sells and Helen Milligan Sells; her brother Sam R. Sells, II and wife Ellen Sells; cousin Charlotte Lehman and beloved poodle Gigi.
Survivors include three children, Helen Chapaitis and husband Brian of Jericho, VT; Dot Glodek and husband Frank of Leesburg, VA; Robert Doss of Pensacola, FL; a stepson, Alton Grimes of Santa Barbara, CA; seven grandchildren, Dave Chapaitis of Seattle, WA; Katherine Dance of Hyattsville, MD; Jennifer Dance of New York City; Jasmine Varner of Nicholasville, KY; Samuel Doss, Jacqueline Doss and Alton Doss of Pensacola, FL; one great-granddaughter, Eliya Varner; cousins Gaines Foster of Baton Rouge, LA and Garnett Foster of Falls Church, VA.
Along with many others, the family would like to thank Nan Ackerman and Mike Wilbourne for their loving care and support.
When asked recently what her greatest accomplishment in her life was, Frances replied,
“Raising my children.”
Interment and a short service will occur in Johnson City, TN on Sunday 4 June 10:00am at the Monte Vista Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held in McLean, VA on 8 June at 10:30am in the chapel at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Lewinsville Presbyterian Church - 1724 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22101, https://www.lewinsville.org/online-giving.
Frances married Robert Doss, a naval aviator and raised three children while making new homes in the many cities in which they were stationed.
In 1966, Frances moved to McLean Virginia where she was an active member of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, and was heavily involved in the church in many roles over the years. One of her favorite projects involved the development and oversight of the Lewinsville Retirement Residence. She also took profound joy in being a part of the greater community and was involved in the McLean Orchestra and McLean Project for the Arts.
Frances loved a southern pie, but her pie of preference involved numbers 𝛑 . With her first-husband she co-founded an aviation technology firm where she ran its financial and business operations, and later returned to university earning a degree in Accounting.
Frances married Alton Grimes in 1979. She had a passion for the theatre, for travel and for helping others. Frances leaves a legacy for her children and grandchildren of her love for God, family, hard work and integrity.
She was on the boards of several companies, as well as a foundation she managed with her brother, Sam R. Sells, that continues to provide financial support for seminary students.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alton Grimes; parents Sam H. Sells and Helen Milligan Sells; her brother Sam R. Sells, II and wife Ellen Sells; cousin Charlotte Lehman and beloved poodle Gigi.
Survivors include three children, Helen Chapaitis and husband Brian of Jericho, VT; Dot Glodek and husband Frank of Leesburg, VA; Robert Doss of Pensacola, FL; a stepson, Alton Grimes of Santa Barbara, CA; seven grandchildren, Dave Chapaitis of Seattle, WA; Katherine Dance of Hyattsville, MD; Jennifer Dance of New York City; Jasmine Varner of Nicholasville, KY; Samuel Doss, Jacqueline Doss and Alton Doss of Pensacola, FL; one great-granddaughter, Eliya Varner; cousins Gaines Foster of Baton Rouge, LA and Garnett Foster of Falls Church, VA.
Along with many others, the family would like to thank Nan Ackerman and Mike Wilbourne for their loving care and support.
When asked recently what her greatest accomplishment in her life was, Frances replied,
“Raising my children.”
Interment and a short service will occur in Johnson City, TN on Sunday 4 June 10:00am at the Monte Vista Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held in McLean, VA on 8 June at 10:30am in the chapel at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Lewinsville Presbyterian Church - 1724 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22101, https://www.lewinsville.org/online-giving.
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RIP Annie.