Robert F. Anderson's Obituary
Robert Faner Anderson, born in Benton Harbor, MI, died on February 15, 2019, at age 95. He served in the field artillery during WWII and the Korean War, and left the Army as 1st Lieutenant. He worked on a Native American anthropological dig for the Chicago Field Museum, attended the University of Chicago on a scholarship, and ultimately pursued a career as a salesman. In 1953 he began a 25-year career working for IBM. After retiring, he formed Satellite Services, a computer consulting company. In 1986 he began working with his son selling mat cutters at state fairs, traveling across the US yearly. Bob was active mentally, physically, and spiritually his entire life. He was a group leader in the Great Books Discussion Courses, a deacon at First Baptist Church, and an avid sailor. He pursued table magic, macrame, mixology, puzzles, and kites. He had consideration and respect for everyone he met. He placed a high value on the quality and power of thinking. He was polite, cheerful, and always interested in the world around him. Tulsans may remember him as “the smiley-face guy” as for years he handed out hand-made smiley faces wherever he went, and his colorful reminders are displayed in his favorite establishments. He slipped away from this life with surprising peace on February 15, 2019, surrounded by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Margaret. He is survived by his five children: Gary (Janet) of Osakis, MN, David (Connie) and Tamara Coleman of Tulsa, Rex of Mobile AL, and Eric (Sonya) of Dallas, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at 1pm in the Family Room at Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa. Please remember him by donating to any Native American or US Veterans charity.
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