Matilda Z. Anderton

Matilda "Tillie" Ruth Karolina Zuberbuhler Anderton, Memphis, 101, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 7, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Lee Harber. Tillie, or "Mumaw," was born April 20, 1914 in Memphis, TN. Her parents, Otto and Gisela Zuberbuhler, immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in the early 1900s. Tillie could not speak English until she entered school. She attended Treadwell School and Nelson's Business College. As a young woman, Tillie worked in a law office, for flood relief, and in the credit department at the old Lowenstein's Department Store. She also traveled to Little Rock, AR and Jackson, MS using the comptometer calculator to figure cotton acreage. In 1981, she retired from Sears, Roebuck and Co. where she was a credit investigator. She was a lifelong, faithful member of the Lutheran Church in Memphis, attending Immanuel, Redeemer and Trinity churches. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran, the same church where her parents were married. At Trinity she was a member of Young at Heart and the Von Bora Circle. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, sewing, crocheting, reading nonfiction and found great pleasure in doing for others and taking care of her family. She loved playing cards and other games that challenged her mind and had endless curiosity and a constant thirst for more knowledge. Until she was nearly 99 years old, Tillie lived in her own home, drove and hand washed her car and even mowed her grass and did yard work. After moving into her daughter and son-in-law's home in 2013, Tillie regularly attended Germantown United Methodist Church. She will be remembered as a soft spoken, gentle woman of great warmth, faith and inner strength. Mrs. Anderton was preceded in death by her husband, Sterling. She is survived by her devoted family, daughter Nancy and son-in-law Lee Harber of Germantown, and grandsons Laine Harber of Little Rock, AR and Clay Harber of Memphis. Her family loved her beyond measure, but nothing could ever compare to the love she had for them. The family expresses their sincere thanks to the dedicated staff of Crossroads Hospice for their wonderful compassion and care, especially Sonni, Tresa and Jeff.