Chester Lee Anderson

Chester Lee Anderson, age 98, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2015, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was born July 2, 1917 in Cushing, Oklahoma, the only child of Eddie Albert and Gertrude Maud (Jennings) Anderson.

Chester’s mother died of pneumonia during the influenza epidemic when he was 2-1/2 years of age. His Aunt Bertha and Uncle George Kirk took him in to be raised with their other children. When it was time for him to go to school, he went to live with his Grandmother Anderson and eventually a step-mother, Ora Mae Buck.

Chester told the story that during his second grade in school, he had trouble with attendance. The truant officer would pick him up and give him a ride in the car, taking him back to school. He said he was promoted to third grade if he promised he would quit playing “hookey” from school. Chester worked as a laborer on farms, picking up odd job wherever he could during the Great Depression, going to work at the Civilian Conservation Corps in Rawlins, Wyoming. After that he joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, way medically discharged. Subsequently, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving his country in Germany during World War II. He also later served in the Korean Conflict.

During his young years, he was married briefly to Esther Karleskint, Ann Harris, and another one. He never had any children. As time went on, he worked in the oil fields, finally settling down in Oklahoma City. He worked for the City of Oklahoma City as a groundskeeper, City Park Department, retiring in July 1982.

On 25 September 2003, Chester, at age of 86, married Dorothy Rice Harris, age 83. They lived out their years together until her death in January 2015. Chester was a resident of Bellevue Health and Rehab in Oklahoma City during the past year due to failing health.

Chester was well-loved by his devoted extended family and scores of friends. He was known for his generosity and loyal devotion. He made sure that people he cared about had popcorn on Fridays and candy on other days. He loved handing out candy at Bellevue to anyone who passed by his doorway.

As a tribute to Chester, an article was published in Infairmation, Behind the Scenes, February 1997, Vol. 2, No. 2, which is a monthly publication serving the exhibitions, patrons and officials of the State Fair of Oklahoma, the following:

“His name is Chester Anderson and he is one of our neighbors across the road from the State Fair Park. Chester is affectionately known as ‘Dad.’ Dad arrives each morning at 6 a.m. to meet Red and help open the Maintenance Shop area and get it ready for the workday. He has been known to sweep the shop, give advice about subjects he knows best, help out where needed. He then heads to the State Fair Arena Office, where he checks in with Connie and Alicia to see what else needs to be done. Seeing that everything is okay there, he drops by the landscaping department to see if Bill and his crew need any help for the day and then on to the Feed and Bedding Department to visit with Steve and Russell.

Dad is known by everyone and is best known for his generosity (he buys Cokes for everyone), his helpfulness (he picks up cans and trash on rounds each day) and his friendship. Eighty years young, he walks from his home to State Fair Park and back each day. Somewhere around 10 a.m. each morning, Dad bids us good-bye and heads home to be of assistance to neighbors. We have tried to hire him, but Dad is too busy to be tied down. He is the best unpaid, part-time employee at the State Fair Park. The world would be better off if we had more people like Chester (Dad).”

Chester leaves no immediate survivors. However, his closest family cousins were the Clark and Macie Brown family, the Rev. Forrest Ladd family, Oscar and Elsie Anderson family, Floyd and Lola Anderson family, Loyd and Nila Haskins family, and many others. A special thank you is extended to Mary Jo and Delbert Maker for their continuous daily support and loving care given to Chester and Dorothy in their declining year. Jack Renfro, manager of Gatti Town in Oklahoma City, and his staff, especially Michelle Talley, provided special loving care to Dorothy and Chester as their daily customers for many years, first at Hometown Buffet, then later at Gatti Town. They are as much a part of Chester’s “family” as anyone could be. Special thanks to neighbors who throughout the years provided love and support. Thank you to the Bellevue Health and Rehabilitation staff and to Centennial Hospice staff for the tremendous care given to Chester, the “Candy Man.”

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3, at Arlington Memory Gardens, 3400 N. Midwest Boulevard, Midwest City, with his cousin, Rev. Forrest Ladd, officiating. Arrangements are by Guardian Funeral Home West, Warr Acres.

Memorials may be given to a favorite charity: Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart