William H. Anderson Jr.

ANDERSON, Jr. , William Henry– born 2/22/1916, “Been there and gone…had a good time.” That is how William Henry Anderson, Jr. of Clearwater, Florida wanted to be remembered. At 96, he died June 14, 2012, at his home of over forty years surrounded by his three surviving daughters, Ingrid Anderson, Katy Anderson Delise, and Frances A. Walker. Raised in a small Georgia town during the depression, Henry, as most knew him, excelled in athletics and academics. With the support of his sister, he trained and began a promising career as a bookkeeper with Armour and Company—only to become immersed in WW II. After Army officer candidate school, he served in the Asian-Pacific campaign, traveling to the Philippines, Hawaii, New Zealand, and nearby islands, as well as the Korean War. He received the Bronze Star Medal and after twenty years retired to Florida as a lieutenant colonel. There he obtained a masters degree in history and began a second career, working for the State of Florida in what was then the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. After a second retirement he spent the majority of his time at the famed Golf Course B at MacDill AFB. Two years ago his always excellent health began to decline when his wife of sixty years died. He and his neighbor would drive an hour and a half in his Buick to the Florida National Cemetery to place red roses on their wives’ graves every week. He filled the outings with war stories and the traditional lunch stop at Denny’s off S.R. 54. He was loved and will be dearly missed. But he did indeed have a good life. Military burial at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Monday, June 18, 2012, at 12:30 p.m. Donations to Humane Society of Pinellas County at www.humanesocietyofPinellas.org/donate.htm