Phyllis Louise Anderson, 89, of Lady Lake, Florida, passed away from a recent illness on October 24, 2014. At the time of her death, she lived with her son Brian in Burlingame, California. Phyllis was born in Kane, Pennsylvania and raised there, along with her sister Pat, by their parents Rudy and Eva Anderson. Phyllis met the love of her live, Herman (“Chip”) Anderson while the two were teenagers. Chip and Phyllis were married in 1942 and enjoyed 60 years of married life. Along the way Chip and Phyllis raised 3 wonderful sons, Gary, Lanny and Brian. Chip, a decorated WWII veteran, served 29 years in the military retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer in 1979. During their military years, Phyllis and her sons followed Chip’s military assignments to places far away from Kane, such as Colorado, Kansas, Cape Cod, London, and Iowa. Her love of adventure and travel were mainstays in her life, in addition to her extraordinary extended family of grandsons, nieces, nephews, cousins and hundreds of really good friends from around the United States and the world. In September, 2014, Phyllis was blessed with the birth of her great-granddaughter, Brooklyn. Phyllis adored her sons, and raised them to love the Lord, know the difference between right and wrong, and to help others. Chip and Phyllis were persons of strong faith and were baptized in the Kane Baptist Church prior to their marriage. Her faith was continually tested during WWII when Chip was flying B-29 missions over Japan and during the nearly 6 years when son Gary, a Navy pilot was a POW in Hanoi. Gary perished in 1976 in a Navy flying accident at Miramar Naval Air Station. Chip passed away in 2002 after a short illness. In spite of these tragedies Phyllis, persevered in her faith and life. A voracious reader, Phyllis could hold her own on a variety of topics, including the Bible and English and American History. Senior citizen status was not an impediment to her thirst for knowledge and love of travel. Phyllis made many trips abroad including Europe, Asia, and Australia. Her nose was always in a book, or her iPad, sorting through hundreds of emails and photos. She also had a penchant for history, chocolate and popcorn. Phyllis was close to her sister Pat, and beloved brother-in-law Butch. She learned from her father and mother, the now lost art of long hand-written letters to her family and friends. Holiday, birthday, and thank you cards were daily habits. Not a birthday passed without a card from Phyllis She was a loving, spiritual woman and a wonderful friend. Her thoughtfulness was legendary. Phyllis loved and was loved by so many, including her father and mother-in-law, Albert and Loretta, and Chip’s sisters Vivian and Phyllis and their families, and sister Pat and her family. Brian, Phyllis’ son, fellow traveler, and constant care-giver, will miss his mother’s daily presence, but will always treasure her grace. Phyllis loved Doug Harris as her son as well, and Doug will miss his Mom. Lanny, along with Phyllis grandsons Ryan and Morgan and Great- Grandaughter Brooklyn celebrate Phyllis’ life and love and adoration. We mourn the loss of our Rock our spiritual leader, our beloved Mother. Phyllis is survived by sons, Lanny Anderson of Denver, Colorado; Brian Anderson of Burlingame, California, grandsons Ryan and Morgan Anderson and great-grandaughter Brooklyn Anderson of Denver, Colorado, sister Patricia Fales and brother-in-law Arnold Fales, of Hayes, Virginia, and so many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., November 1, 2014 at North Lake Presbyterian Church, Lady Lake, Florida. Following the service there will be a reception at her home. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida with her husband Chip. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.
