Charles Newton Anderson Sr.

Charles Newton Anderson Sr. was born to Oral Charlie & Henry Elma Anderson on March 18,1933 in Wildwood Florida. Charles is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Lucy Anderson; daughters Kathryn Anderson (Tallahassee FL), Kimberly Ebbers (Kurt), Kelley Anderson, and son Charles Newton Anderson Jr./“Chuck”, all of Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren Charles Newton Anderson III (Yexenia) of Jacksonville FL; Amanda Sue Anderson (Joe) of Lexington KY; Zachary Luke Ebbers (Emma) of St. Louis MO; Chase Logan Ebbers & Harrison Jude Ebbers both of Jacksonville FL. Great grandchildren are Joseph Haden Derringer of Lexington, KY; Isla Joy Ebbers of St. Louis MO; Cassandra Alysse Anderson-Rijo, Charles Newton Anderson IV, and Carmen Ola Yvonne Anderson-Rijo all of Jacksonville, FL.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents as well as siblings George Kimbell Anderson, Norman Gerald Anderson, Patricia Katherine Roark, and Vonda Sue Mills.

Charles spent his early childhood years growing up on a farm in Oxford, FL through first grade, afterwards moving to Medulla, FL and from there moved to Mulberry FL, where he graduated from Mulberry High School in 1952. During his high school years, Charles was on the high school all star football team and also worked for W.S. Badcock during high school. Mr. Badcock took an interest in Charles and took him fishing and spent time mentoring him.

Upon graduation, Charles joined the Air Force, becoming trained in aircraft maintenance. After being stationed in Germany from 1953-1956, he returned to his home town and worked at Bartow Air Base as an aviation specialist. It was then when Charles started dating Lucy Marsh and asked for her hand in marriage. He was ahead of her in school, so he had never noticed her, but she had noticed him. They were married in Nichols, FL on January 18, 1957. After their wedding, they were stationed at several Air Force bases including locations in Panama City, Arizona, Germany, South Carolina and Texas: Charles also traveled to TDY assignments in Thailand and South Africa.

After serving 20 years in the Air Force, Charles retired and moved the family to Crestview FL, where he graduated from Okaloosa-Walton Junior College with an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and Hotel Management. He was on staff at Morrison’s Cafeteria, as well as on a rig offshore in Louisiana, but felt the call to return to his aviation skills. He accepted job offers with Boeing, Northrup, Grummond and Lear Seglar which included work in Saudia Arabia in the late 70’s and 80’s.

Charles continued his aviation skills for Boeing in Lake Charles, Louisiana where he built airplanes. Following this adventure was an employment opportunity in Richmond, KY where Charles modified Black Hawk Helicopters. He enjoyed this opportunity, but not the snow and black ice, which necessitated a move back to Florida in1996, where Charles and Lucy had always planned on retiring. They chose Jacksonville, where their only grandchildren at the time lived. Charles continued to employ his aviation skills at Northrup-Grummond, building airplanes in St. Augustine.

After retiring in 2003 Charles spent the next 2 years enjoying travel with Lucy and spending time lots of time swimming in their pool with his grandchildren and taking them on numerous trips to the zoo, Alligator Farm, Adventure Landing and all kind of fun places.

But soon, Charles, always a person who enjoyed working and providing for his family, accepted a job with Publix in 2005, until 2015 when Lucy insisted he retire.

Charles and Lucy both enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad. They took their grandsons on trips around US, including a couple of 6,000 mile trips, as well as cruising to Australia, New Zealand and the Panama Canal. Charles was a family man and was always having the most fun when he was spending time with Lucy and their children, grands and great grands and fishing and going to ball games with his son Chuck.

Lucy introduced Charles to Jesus and he asked Jesus into his heart in1967 in his barracks while attending the NCO Academy. Charles was very involved with his church wherever he lived and was a Deacon and the Director of Royal Ambassadors in several churches.

At 92 years of age, Charles had lived a full life as he went home peacefully to Heaven to be with his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

A Celebration of Life & Home-Going Service officiated by the Reverend Dr. Bob Barton will be held on Sunday, June 22 at 3pm in the Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills to honor Charles’ life. A private family visitation will be at 1pm, and friends are invited to visit at 2pm.

The family wishes to thank the many people who were involved in caring for Charles at The Mayo Clinic and A Care Connection, as well as the many friends and neighbors who helped the family care for Charles these last several months.