Ted Beebe Anderson

Ted worked on their farm milking cows, feeding the animals, and irrigating the crops. At the age of 10, Ted went to work with his Dad and learned how to drive a truck. He was worried because he was very young but they told him he couldn't hurt anyone cause there wasn't anyone around to run over.

At 17 Ted hitchhiked from Utah to California to join the Navy. He told them he was 18. While in California on leave he met his wife, Billie. A friend who knew them both gave Ted Billie's address, so he went to see her. Ted borrowed his older brother's car and they went on a date. Ted told Billie right up front that he had no intention of getting married, and Billie said she didn't either. Wellllll-------there must have been some "magic" in the air because they were married 8 weeks later on August 11, 1942. They were 17 and 19 years old.

In the Navy, Ted was on a cruiser ship, the USS Northampton. The ship was on its way to Pearl Harbor and they were battling with the Japanese in Guadalcanal. The ship was hit by 2 torpedoes and badly damaged. The order to abandon ship was issued December 1, 1942 at 1:15 am. The ship sank shortly after that. Most of the crew members survived and were picked up by nearby US ships.

Ted and Billie had 2 daughters, Nancy and Jill, and in 1950 they purchased their home on Sunfield Avenue in Lakewood, where they lived all those years.

After the war Ted was a carpenter and roofer. He really wanted to drive a truck and in the 50's he got his wish. Ted worked hard and Billie was able to stay home with their daughters. He drove locally for many years and then started driving long haul when the girls were in junior and high school. He would be gone 3 to 7 days. After the girls left home, Billie told Ted he needed to stop driving long haul and be home at night. He got another job hauling heavy equipment and he really enjoyed it. He retired at 62.

In 1958 the family bought their first water ski boat. They vacationed at Bass Lake for many years with their friends. They also skied at Marine Stadium and Lake Elsinore. In 1962 Ted ordered a custom built 18 food ski boat with a 427 Chevy engine. After that time the family spent a lot of time at the Colorado River. Ted and Billie purchased a trailer in Arizona. At dusk Ted joined others for drag racing on the water and Ted won most of the time.

Ted and Billie had 3 granddaughters - Jamie, Traci, and Courtney. The girls spent a lot of time with their grandparents. They were also blessed with 5 great grandkids - Kyle (18), Kevin (15), Aubrey (6 3/4), Noah (2 3/4), and Ashlyn (2 months).

Ted was a very kind and gentle man. He was loved and will be missed by many.