Ann is the author of four local histories in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America Series: Parker (2003), Callaway (2004), Millville (2005), and St. Andrews (2007).  She was inspired by her memories of her grandparents to put together the photos for the first book; she was born and raised in Parker and is a sixth generation descendant of William Loftin, through the line of Anne Loftin and Peter Ferdinand Parker.

Ann attended Parker School grades 1-8, Bay County High School 9-12, Gulf Coast Community College, and Florida State University.  She married  Roy L. Houpt, a Pennsylvanian stationed at Tyndall AFB.  They lived in Lenni, PA, for six years then moved back to Parker.  After 3 ½ years teaching girls’ physical education at Everitt Junior High, Ann worked at the Panama City News-Herald as a reporter/feature writer and interim state editor.  Next, she went on to work for Publisher Woodrow Wilson on his short-lived (but very excellent :-) bi- weekly paper The Times.  Following this, she went on to writing for a local small magazine, The Mobile Generation; subsequently, she worked for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Finally, she started her journey with the the Bay County Public Library in December 1977. 

After thirty-two years of faithful service to the Bay County Public Library, Ann decided to close the book on December 31, 2009, on this chapter in her life.  Her favorite responsibility in the Youth Department was storytelling.  Ann has an incredible knowledge of children's books and spent countless hours advising children and parents about good literature to read.  Ann brought laughter and joy to thousands of children of Bay County through her storytelling.  She is truly missed by her coworkers.