Loving mother, grandmother and friend

Annette Liles, a longtime Claremont resident, died on November 2, 2013 at the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Health Center at the age of 82. 

Born Ruth Annette Harper on October 26, 1931 to Richard “Jack” and Bertha Harper in Whitewright, Texas, she was the youngest of four children. Her family came to Claremont when she was 9 years old, living in the early years in a house on 8th Street and Dartmouth Avenue where the back lawn of Honnold Library is now located. Her parents initially worked at Wolfe’s Market.

Mrs. Liles attended Claremont Elementary School (now Sycamore) and Claremont High School, which then consisted of grades 7-12 taught in the Old Schoolhouse. While at Claremont High School, she was senior class social chairman, one of two cheerleaders her senior year, a member of the Girls Athletic Association and a member of the Wolfpacket newspaper staff. After graduating from Claremont High School in 1950, she attended Chaffey College.

Mrs. Liles married fellow CHS alum and Claremont native Robert “Bob” Liles on February 17, 1952. They were married for 57 years before his passing in 2009. She was a homemaker who raised five children.

During the 1950s, she was a member of the Claremont Junior Women’s Club. She enjoyed many years of fun and longtime friendships as a member of The Pomona Valley Mothers of Twins Club, the Casa Colina Auxiliary and Via Verde Country Club. Mr. and Mrs. Liles were part of the group of parents and community leaders who founded Padua Village, Inc. (now part of Casa Colina) to assure proper care and home-style living for developmentally disabled adults.

In retirement, she enjoyed traveling, learning to play golf—getting a hole-in-one on the 8th hole of the Avila Beach Golf Resort—vacationing at Newport Beach and, most importantly, spending time with her six grandchildren, Troy, Laura, Jason, Ashlee, Brent and Todd.

For the past eight years, Mrs. Liles lived at Mt. San Antonio Gardens among many longtime Claremont friends and making many more friends who were new to Claremont. She introduced her new friends to many Claremont traditions, including the Fourth of July Parade and Monday night concerts in Memorial Park. In the last weeks of her life, Mrs. Liles most wanted to be at the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Health Center surrounded by her friends in the Gardens community and her friends on the Health Center staff.

Mrs. Liles is survived by her five children, Robert E. Liles, II of Silver Spring, Maryland, Lyn Meeker (Gary) of Tucson, Arizona, Tom Liles of Pomona, Leesa Lamb (Bryan) of Vista and Jan Mortenson (Jon) of Laguna Niguel. She also leaves her six grandchildren and her sister Betty Bottorf of Corona del Mar. 

No services are planned. Memorial donations may be made to the Casa Colina Foundation (Padua Village), 255 E. Bonita Ave., Pomona, CA 91767.