Anita Lavina Sullins

Anita Lavina Sullins (nee Berger) was born on January 31, 1927 in Tacoma, Washington to Lilly Mae Blades and Gustave Berger. She spent most of her childhood in Southern California. There she met Robert Lee Sullins, with whom she eloped on June 5, 1943 in Yuma, Arizona after a whirlwind romance. They were married for 63 years.

Anita is survived by her children, Marsha Hill, Elaine (Richard) Moser, Gary (Elizabeth) Sullins, and Cheryl (Lawrence) Resch. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Anita was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her daughter Nancy, her son-in-law Andrew, and siblings Theda, Henry, Evelyn, Frances, Frank, Bonita, Juanita and Dolores.

Anita was a talented seamstress and sewed clothes for her children and grandchildren, including the wedding dresses of her three daughters. She was also known for sewing doll clothes and clothes for “Madame Goose” who sat outside her door at four residences.

After living in Alaska, California, New York, Virginia, Florida, Great Britain and Maryland as a Coast Guard wife, Anita settled in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Anita was an avid tennis and golf player and used her organizational skills in her children’s schools, the church, creating a Meals on Wheels route, organizing neighborhood card groups and dinner groups, and golf tournaments. She then took her skills to Patriots Colony in Williamsburg, where she helped organize card games and birthday celebrations.

A celebration of life will take place on Friday, April 17th at 2:00 p.m. in the Grand Hall at Patriot’s Colony.