Anne Lank Rouse
Anne Lank Rouse, a woman of quiet grace, generous spirit, and joyful laughter, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025, at the age of 89.
Born on August 12, 1936, in Buffalo, Ny., Anne was the eldest child of Everett and Myra (Lewis) Lank. She moved with her family to Bethesda, Md., in 1943, and graduated from Bethesda–Chevy Chase High School. The oldest of four children, she is predeceased by her brother Joe and is survived by sisters Susan and Jean.
A lifelong Friend (member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers), Anne's life was guided by a deep sense of peace, integrity, and compassion. She met her future husband, Jim Rouse, at Friends Meeting of Washington on Florida Avenue and married in June 1956, beginning a marriage and partnership that would last nearly seventy years that were marked by love, service, and shared laughter.
During Jim's Navy service, they lived in Brunswick, Ga.; Lexington Park, Md.; and Albuquerque, NM, before returning to the Washington, DC area. There they settled in Northern Virginia, where they raised their five children: Ellen, Joanne, Betty, Carol, and James. She leaves behind her beloved husband Jim; her five children and their spouses; 16 grandchildren and soon to be 17 great-grandchildren.
Sympathy notes may be sent to Jim Rouse and family, Friends Homes, 925 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).