He was born on September 26, 1944, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the fifth son of the late Samuel and Caroline Anderson.
Known as “Butch” to his extended family, Sam served his country in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1971. After completing his military service, Sam worked in various roles at AT&T in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lake Mary, Florida from 1971 to 2001. In 1996, he began a second career at Walt Disney World, first as a custodian and later as a security host. Sam worked at the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom resorts, retiring in May 2022.
Sam was an accomplished bowler who won numerous trophies in his younger years. He found joy in simple pleasures such as walking, watching movies on the TV, and shopping. He had a strong interest in electronics and enjoyed using the latest technology. He loved visiting theme parks, especially Kings Island and Walt Disney World, and enjoyed traveling to Florida coastal destinations such as St. Augustine and Sanibel Island. Sam also had a special place in his heart for dogs, particularly dachshunds.
Quiet, hardworking, and dependable, Sam was a devoted husband and father who was the steady rock of his family. In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by his brothers Pat, Allan, Mike, and Tim Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Emira Anderson, of Winter Park, Florida; his daughter, Vanessa Anderson, of Winter Park, Florida; his brother, Jim Anderson, of Crossville, Tennessee; his sister-in-law, Dot Anderson, of Crossville, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m., followed immediately by the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 7520 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792. The burial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Highway 1, Mims, FL 32754. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Sam’s memory to the American Heart Association.
