Howard Odean Anderson

Howard O. Anderson 91, died Sunday morning, October 30th, in Grapevine, Texas. A native of Howard, South Dakota, he is the son of Christ and Marie Hague Anderson. Howard grew up on a farm and took his sophomore year off from high school to help on the farm. His parents were Norwegian and thought that Howard could not understand the language, but little did they know that he picked up the language and understood every word.

A graduate of Howard High School, he later entered the United States Army Air Force from which he was discharged in 1946. He was a 48 year resident of Farmers Branch and retired from Braniff Airways where he had the nickname of Andy although most called him Howie. He worked as an airline mechanic and retired 40 years to the day that he started to work.. He stated that he never dreaded a day of work

He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia, whom he met on a blind date. They married in 1948 and shared 60 wonderful years before Patty passed away in 2009.

Howard is described by his family as a soft-spoken, gentle man that always put his family first. Among their remembrances is that he mowed "I love you" in the grass for Patty...playing cards with him... watching his card tricks...his favorite quotes...his love of sweets...grandchildren eating ice cream with their grandpa...his kneeling beside the bed every night to pray...the example of hard work, patience and respect that shaped the lives of all of his children...eating taco's and watching planes take off and land at DFW airport...that he loved his bird feeder and watching the birds...his remote contol airplanes...and his love and care for Patty during her illness.

Howard was also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.He is survived by sons, Terry Anderson and his wife Loree of Farmers Branch, Bob Anderson and his wife Linda of Grapevine and Charles Anderson and his wife Kirsti of Highland Village and by a daughter,Annette Frye and her husband Kirk of Friona, Tx; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Arranged by Rhoton Funeral Home