Roll Call Tribute

Published in Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News on Sept. 3, 2016

Robert Anderson(1921 - 2016)
Robert Francis Anderson died on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the age of 95. He was born in 1921 in Lake Creek, Delta County, Texas to Florence Lenore Hudson Anderson and Charles Zera Anderson.
Robert grew up as the youngest of three sons. His father's work as a merchant, an earthwork contractor, a farmer and a pharmacist took the family to several new homes in Texas. These growing-up experiences of working hard together as a family during the Depression developed in Robert a strong resiliency and a devotion to family.
In 1941, Robert enrolled at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. He was in the Corps of Cadets and rode in the Horse Cavalry. In 1942, Robert interrupted his college work to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Robert served in WWII in the Pacific theater as a fighter pilot. He flew 146 combat missions from air strips in the Solomon Islands and from aircraft carriers. While piloting F-4U Corsairs he shot down three enemy planes and was awarded two distinguished flying crosses and four air medals. After his assignments in the Pacific he was tasked with training other pilots in southern California. Following WWII, Captain Anderson flew "show-of-force" missions in northern China where the marines were stationed as a deterrent to Communist advances.
In 1947 Robert finished his Marine Corps service and returned to school. He graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Following graduation, he joined his brother Lanoy Anderson in starting a farming and ranching enterprise at Lovington, New Mexico. Cotton farming and hog and cattle production were the main cash crops. While living at Lovington, Robert was introduced to a young, talented and beautiful school teacher, Bernice Evangeline Ehrlich. Robert and Bernice were married the following year on November 13, 1952 at Follett, Texas. The couple welcomed their first child-a daughter, Amy Eryn Anderson-in 1953.
Robert and Bernice left the farming and ranching business following the collapse of the cotton market in 1954. Between 1954 and 1962 their family grew. Their second daughter, Valerie Beth Anderson was born in 1957, followed by the birth of their first son, Lon Robert Anderson in 1959 and the birth of their second son, Lee Evan Anderson in 1960. During these years, the family lived in Lubbock, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Robert's occupations included ranch manager, commercial and residential painter, and concrete block plant foreman.
In 1962 Robert began his long, successful career working for the Bureau of Land Management. The family moved to Socorro, New Mexico where the BLM office overseeing public lands throughout central New Mexico was located. While working from the Socorro office, Robert became well acquainted with all the ranchers in central New Mexico. He spent much time out on the open range evaluating range conditions and developing optimal plans for land use and protection. Robert authored the proposal which led to the establishment of the El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico.
Robert transferred to the BLM office in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1974. During this time, he also became a professional rural land appraiser. He retired from the BLM in 1981. In retirement, Robert volunteered as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol, completing many flight missions. He also gave introductory flights to CAP cadets.
Robert shared his love of the outdoors with his children: camping, hunting, backpacking and canoeing. He enjoyed being the oldest 'regular' at World gym. He was a voracious reader and shared books and articles he read with Bernice. Robert and Bernice enjoyed playing tennis well into their eighties.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Zera and Florence Hudson Anderson; and by his two brothers, Hudson Lycurgus Anderson and Lanoy Darrell Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bernice Ehrlich Anderson; his daughter, Amy Anderson Silverthorn (Lee); his daughter, Valerie Anderson Shelley (Kenneth); his son, Lon Robert Anderson (Denise); and son Lee Evan Anderson (Kathy); ten grandchildren (Bryan Silverthorn, Lesley Silverthorn Marincola, Severn Shelley, Desta Shelley Parkinson, Summer Shelley, Dylan Anderson, Cole Anderson, Evan Anderson, Christen Skillman, and Kevin Konchalski); and nine great-grandchildren.
Robert will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.