Charles James "Chuck" Anderson

A much-beloved San Antonio elf just returned to his home in heaven. True, most people knew Chuck Anderson only as an advertising executive, but if you want to know the whole story about his time on earth, well…

Life is funny. Sometimes it’s fun, as well. But Charles James (“Chuck”) Anderson had no way of knowing this when he was born April 5, 1947, the son of James Frederick and Florence James Anderson.

No, Chuck didn’t know that he would one day work with Jonathan Winters on Diamond Shamrock spots. Or that a visit to Winters’ house would be interrupted by a 30-minute phone call from Robin Williams, resulting in a hilarious improv routine by both comics as Chuck looked on. Or that Chuck’s creation of the “Buppets” for VIA Metropolitan Transit would lead to TV ads with Monty Python star John Cleese…or that Cleese would recall that and recognize Chuck and wife Yoli at a chi-chi NYC restaurant several years later. But we digress…

The point is, Chuck was not born an adman, but how he became one was an adventure.

First came the whole elf thing…which would lead to a lifelong penchant for showmanship. You see, his maternal grandparents ran James’ Bicycle Shop in downtown San Antonio for years. Each Christmas Eve, young Chuck dressed as one of Santa’s elves to help his granddad deliver newly purchased bikes. He would eventually outgrow that elf costume, but never the sense of fun and magic that came with it. As a teen, Chuck dressed as an early-era policeman and rode a late-1800s-style “big wheel” bike in the Battle of Flowers parade. Still later, he became a serious Model A Ford aficionado (he owned 4 at one point). He also made a name for himself as a deal-maker, trading one Model A for a gazebo that still graces his home’s backyard today.

But when he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High in 1964, he left those vehicles behind, boarded a train for Crawfordsville, Indiana, and entered the all-male environs of Wabash College, his father’s alma mater. There, he apparently talked his way through all four years (1964-68) as a speech major and a member of the Speaker’s Bureau (need an emcee for your store opening? a custom speech delivered to a packed auditorium? no problem!)

Realizing midway through senior year that he would graduate at the height of the Vietnam conflict, he (a) panicked, (b) visited the draft board, who offered less than joyful news, and (c) signed up to take Navy officer candidate exams. Volunteering was the only logical choice – and his dad Jim had been a Navy pilot in WWII and Korea. Chuck passed…and only then did he inform his parents of his postgraduate plans. Goodbye Wabash (graduation 1968), and hello US Navy.

His first posting was Long Beach, CA – a year with the Navy’s prestigious SeaLab project – before being sent to Washington as public affairs officer at the Pentagon. All that year, Chuck gave daily press briefings to chief of naval operations Adm. Thomas Moore, plus occasional presentations to the entire Joint Chiefs. He was a natural at this. So much so that in 1970, he was given a choice: stay in the Navy and ensure promotion by being posted to Saigon, or take an early out. Wow! Suddenly Chuck was a civilian again! So after a two-month break backpacking through Europe, from Portugal up to Norway, he headed back to Texas, with his own big plans.

In October 1970, Chuck had a momentous homecoming discussion with his dad, San Antonio ad exec Jim Anderson. Hearing that National Bank of Commerce was ready for a new agency, they teamed up, brought in other ad pros, created a new campaign, a dazzling presentation, and presto! NBC became the flagship client of a newly minted firm, Anderson Lewis. Over the next 50 years, Chuck refined his business skills as agency president, while the firm evolved into Anderson Advertising, then Anderson Marketing Group. Meanwhile, as creative director, Chuck would give his elfin fun side free rein. Updating TV production styles for H-E-B and Ancira-Winton Chevrolet. Creating characters like Jack the Zipper for 1970s jeans store Below the Belt – and those VIA Buppets in the 1980s. Helping Diamond Shamrock build their Corner Store image...and later rebrand as Valero. Integrating the look and marketing of five local schools into the Alamo Colleges. From Luby’s to Porter Loring to Pioneer Flour Mills to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – the list of clients astounds. So does the list of local, regional and national ADDYs and other accolades. But the longevity and professional record of success – hey, those pretty much speak for themselves.

But was Chuck’s inner elf all work and no personal life? Hardly.

One day in 1971, Chuck’s childhood best friend called and said he’d been set up on a blind date: “Why don’t we make it a double date and you drive your Model A?” So there they were, Chuck and his date for the evening in the front seat, and in the rumble seat, Chuck’s friend and a striking young lady named Yoli…Yolanda Peña…who exuded extraordinary elfin vibes of her own. This did not go unnoticed by Chuck. In the following weeks, this quartet of acquaintances became a duet of friends. Best friends. Inseparable best friends: Chuck and Yoli. Yoli and Chuck. Romance ensued, it blossomed, and in 1974 it expanded into matrimony. Then parenthood (James and Chrissy). Grandparenthood. And so on. We’re leaving out a lot of details here. Suffice it to say that this partnership too had a record-setting run.

Chuck was consistent on other fronts, as well. Playing racquetball every week for decades. Serving as president of The Governors Club. Acting as Prime Minister for the Court of Rey Feo in 1998. Doing years of community service through the agency for the regional YMCA, the Ecumenical Center, and other groups. Serving on assorted executive boards. Becoming a member of various social clubs (Big Hipps Bubble Room was a favorite). And, of course, being a dad.

When their kids were successfully launched into college and adulthood, Chuck and Yoli said a little prayer of thanks. Then got a bit more serious about prayer, deciding to join their first Bible study group – which they both finally had time for. This resonated strongly with Chuck, so he went on to join a men’s Thursday Morning Bible Study Group – a “can’t miss” weekly focus for the next 25+ years. In fact, only in the last few months of his life, when his fight against Parkinson’s Disease made attendance impossible, did he fail to show up.

He was, his family insists, the best of the best. As a husband…a father…grandfather…friend. With his passing at his home on Monday, December 15, 2025, he leaves behind his beloved wife Yoli; his son James Anderson; his daughter Christina (Chrissy) Anderson Labatt and son-in-law Thomas Labatt; grandsons Thomas (Tommy) Weir Labatt V and Trenten James Labatt, all of San Antonio. He also leaves a large extended family of current and former work colleagues, including longtime partner and friend Julius Germano, and Kim Gresham, in whose capable hands the legacy of Anderson Marketing Group now rests.

Chuck’s family is full of gratitude for the loving care provided by some very special individuals the Lord sent.

Dr Fernando Lopez guided us through Chuck’s journey with Parkinson’s with his gentleness and medical expertise coordinating with other experts as needed.

Chuck received wonderful home health care for several years from Victor Velazquez, Norma Perez, Ana Arenas, Nikki Carrington as well as an exceptional team from Avionn and Marisela Quiroz’s Loving Hearts Group, Avenues Team and Hearts of Texas Hospice. We will be forever grateful.

For those wishing to say farewell to Chuck (whether you knew his elfin secret or not) and to honor the family, a visitation will take place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, from 5:00 p.m-6:00 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary – McCullough (1101 McCullough Avenue), with a rosary to follow at 6:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will take place at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, December 22, 2025, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church (102 Lorenz Road). Interment with Military Honors will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will include Thomas Labatt IV, Thomas Labatt V (Tommy), Trenten Labatt, Ed Kelley, Edward Kelley, Michael Fernandez, and Ernie Guerra. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Thursday Bible Study Group (The Fishermen), Raul B. Fernandez, Weir Labatt, Ronnie Attal, Julius Germano, Clyde Johnson III, Jimmy Ahern, Peter Hennessey III, Mike Yates, and Bill Cook.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to your own favorite charity.

Click here to livestream the service: https://www.facebook.com/stanthonydepaduasa