Ann Yvonne Cameron

Ann Yvonne Cameron, 81, went home to be with her Lord on August 30, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 6, 1945 to Owen and Gladys Ackerman, Ann grew up on her family’s farm in London Ohio, alongside her older brother Ronal Ackerman. Ann graduated London High School in 1963.

Ann married John Cameron, and together they had three children. Her children and grandkids were among the greatest joys of her life.

Her love of learning, literature, and language led her to The Ohio State University, where she earned her degree in education, and later returned to complete a master’s degree. Ann was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority while at OSU.

Ann became a teacher and she understood the power of words. She knew that words could teach, encourage, open a child’s imagination and transport them somewhere entirely new. As a third-grade teacher in Southwestern City Schools for 30 years at Stiles and Darby Woods Elementary Schools, until her retirement in 2013, and also serving as District literary specialist, Ann spent her career helping children discover the magic of words within books, stories, and language; her co-workers and students adored her.

Year after year, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year. But perhaps the honors she treasured most came long after her students had left her classroom. She would be spotted in restaurants, stores, and other places around town by former students who had grown up but had never forgotten her. They would greet her with smiles, hugs, and the unmistakable joy of seeing a teacher who had made a difference in their lives.

Ann is survived by her brother, Ronnie (Patty); her son Todd (Amy), her daughters Kristin Cameron, and Brittnee (Andy) Haenszel. Grandchildren Alex, Carly, Grace, and Aidan Cameron; Bobby Denny; Kai Rasmussen; and Lexi, Maddie, Max, and Sam Haenszel.

She leaves behind a family filled with memories, traditions, laughter, and love that will continue to be told for generations.

In addition to her career, and family, Ann loved travel, yoga, nature, cooking and entertaining, but nothing compared to her love of holidays and celebrating birthdays.

Ann’s shopping and gift giving, wrapping up the perfect gift to perfection, and making a person feel special were her trademarks. She understood that the details mattered.

In one of life’s cruelest ironies, dementia began to take away the very thing Ann had spent her life celebrating. Words became hard for her to recall. And common place tasks, like driving or cooking became hard.

But, even when she could no longer remember a common word or name, put on a Johnny Mathis or Nat King Cole song and somehow, she could sing along. The words that sometimes disappeared in conversation could still be found in a song.

She left her mark on all those she encountered, and she enriched the lives of those of us fortunate enough to call her mom, Mama, teacher, family, friend, or neighbor. She lived her life with passion, laughter, curiosity and gusto and she will be missed.

At 81, Ann’s final chapter on earth has come. But the story does not end here. It lives in the children she taught, the people she touched, the family she poured into, and the lives they touch.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s memory to The Emma & Bruce Willis Foundation for Dementia Research, www.eifoundation.org, or Central Ohio Hospice, www.ohiohospice.org.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 21, 2026 in Columbus. If you’d like to share a memory or attend the Celebration of life, please reach out to Kristin, or Amy, or send an email to anncameroncelebration@gmail.com. We will provide details as they become available.