ROBERT MARION ANDERSON,
BORN: DEC 26, 1931 –
DIED: AUGUST 9, 2012
ROBERT M. ANDERSON WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN, BOTH TO HIS FAMILY, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET HIM. BORN THE SON OF A “CHURCH OF GOD” PREACHER FROM HATTESBURG, MS, HE GREW UP ROOTED IN THE EVANGELICAL SOUTHERN GOSPEL TRADITION, BUT LATER EARNED HIS LIVING AS A WELL RESPECTED MASONRY CONTRACTOR IN THE LARGO, FL COMMUNITY.
HE WAS A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND HUMBLE MAN, AND A DEVOTED FATHER AND HUSBAND. EVEN AFTER LONG DAYS AT WORK, HE COULD STILL FIND THE TIME TO PRAY, EVEN INTO THE LATE EVENING HOURS, FOR HIS FAMILY, FOR HIS CHURCH, FOR THE STRENGTH TO BE THE GOOD PERSON THAT HE WAS, AND FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR HIS CHILDREN. HE WAS A LOVING, BUT STRICT FATHER, BUT NEVER TOO TIRED OR UNWILLING TO BE THERE FOR HIS FAMILY. HE OFTEN VOLUNTEERED AT THE LOCAL GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION, TO SING AND WITNESS TO THE MEN THERE WHO WERE HOMELESS AND DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. AND WOULD OFTEN REACH IN HIS POCKET TO GIVE A FEW DOLLARS TO SOMEONE WHO HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
ALTHOUGH HE ONLY HAD AN EIGHTH GRADE EDUCATION, HE READ AND KNEW THE BIBLE BETTER THAN MOST MINISTERS, THAT WAS HIS WAY TO “SELF-EDUCATE” HIMSELF WITH READING AND LEARNING. HE CHOSE TO LEAVE SCHOOL TO WORK AT A FRUIT PACKING PLANT IN LARGO TO HELP SUPPORT HIS YOUNGER BROTHER JOE ATTEND COLLEGE, SACRIFICING HIS SCHOOL YEARS AS TEENAGER TO PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST, AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE HE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE TAKEN CARE OF AND PROVIDED FOR, EVEN TO HIS FINAL DAYS.
HE LOVED TELLING JOKES, AND KEEPING SPIRITS HIGH, PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF TOUGHING THROUGH THE HARD TIMES HE HAD GREW UP IN. IT WAS RARE THAT YOU WOULD HEAR HIM COMPLAIN, UNLESS HE COULDN’T FIND AN RC COLA AND A MOON PIE.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER HE LOVED TO “SANG”, BUT IT WAS FIRST IN THE AIR FORCE IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA HE LEARNED GUITAR AND PIANO. LATER IN A GOSPEL QUARTET WITH THE LIKES OF GOSPEL LEGEND VEP ELLIS, HE SANG, PLAYED GUITAR AND PIANO, BUT ODDLY HE COULD PLAY ALMOST ANY SONG HE EVER HEARD ONLY IN THE KEY OF F-SHARP.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK HIM WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR, HE COULDN’T TELL YOU. BUT I WOULD SUGGEST IT WOULD BE WHAT A KIND-HEARTED, GIVING MAN HE WAS, HOW HE ALWAYS GAVE TO OTHERS, HOW HE HONORED GOD, AND HOW HE BROUGHT HIS KIDS UP TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH.
OUR WORLD LOST A POWERFUL SOUL WHEN GOD CALLED HIM TO HEAVEN. HE WAS A TRUE ANGEL HERE ON EARTH. HE WAS OUR FATHER, OUR FRIEND, AND WE WILL MISS HIM FOR THE REST OF OUR TIME HERE.
ROBERT ( BOB ) IS SURVIVED BY THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN: JERRY CHAMPION; SONS: ROBERT JR AND KENNETH; DAUGHTER: LINDA; AND GRANDKIDS: EMILY, JOSEPH, KIMBERLY, BO, SEAN, COLIN, JULIA, JESSICA, AND GREAT GRANDKIDS JJ, CARSON AND LILLIE.
GOD BLESS YOU DADDY, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012 AT GULF COAST CHURCH, 13301 WALSINGHAM ROAD, LARGO 33774, (727) 595-2034.
PLEASE SIGN THE GUESTBOOK BELOW.
I’m so glad that you’re in heaven now, I know you’re happy, and reunited with MawMaw and Grandaddy, and Uncle Gene and Uncle Joe, and Ricky Swensen, and Joe Afonso, and many others, including Ling. I miss you, and will see you when it’s my time. I love you Daddy.
I’m so glad that you’re in heaven now, I know you’re happy, and reunited with MawMaw and Grandaddy, and Uncle Gene and Uncle Joe, and Ricky Swensen, and Joe Afonso, and many others, including Ling. I miss you, and will see you when it’s my time. I love you Daddy.
I’m so glad that you’re in heaven now, I know you’re happy, and reunited with MawMaw and Grandaddy, and Uncle Gene and Uncle Joe, and Ricky Swensen, and Joe Afonso, and many others, including Ling. I miss you, and will see you when it’s my time. I love you Daddy.
Daddy,
How strange it feels that you are no longer here with us on earth. But I know you are in heaven now, you were ready to go, I heard you praying. There’s so much I’m going to miss about you, saying something silly to make me laugh, some plain practical advice to make me stop and think or just a hug with “I love you baby.” You have been my source of wisdom and strength. Thank you for being there for me during the hard times and celebrating with me during the good. I love you and will see you again in heaven one day.
Dear Uncle Bob, I have not seen you much since I became an adult but I will always remember how good you were to me and how you would always make me laugh. I love you. Say hi to my Dad, Grandma and Grandpa for me.
Precious Memories is the title of a song which describes best what I will remember the times I spent with Bob Anderson and his family in his home and church in the early 1970’s. He was gentle, fun-loving, hardworking, faithful to his church Harvest Temple and Pastor Vep Ellis as an Elder, loved to sing Gospel, and share his faith in those days in various ways, like the Rescue Mission or Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. Simply put, he just loved God and lived like it in humble, practical ways! He made Jesus real, which was a slogan or motto in those days of church life, and he was living proof. It was an honor to know him.
I knew you as a strong carrying man. You were always there for your family. I have thought of you often over the years and you will be missed. god bless you
I still remember spending time at the Anderson home when Linda and I were in high school. Bob (Mr Anderson then) always had a funny story or very silly joke to share with us. I am so sorry to hear of his passing but I know these wonderful memories will stay with us forever. God Bless Bob and all of his family.
I was an Elder in the Harvest Temple Church of God in Largo Fl. in the 1970’s. I was in the choir and served with Vep Ellis until he passed on. I don’t remember Bob Anderson but I must have know him during those years. My wife Norma and I used to take the “Chapel on Wheels” to Clearwater Beach on Friday and Saturday nights ministering to the young homeless people. I have so many great God filled memories of those days. God bless you all! Rex Plent.