Robert D. Anderson

Robert Desha Anderson was born in Indianapolis on October 22, 1944, to Marcus and Hazel Anderson. He graduated from George Washington High School. He married Deborah L. Wilkins on Valentine’s Day, on February 14, 1975, in Indianapolis.

He worked at Fall Creek YMCA and Douglas Park as a Lifeguard and later as a Water Safety Instructor. Bob, as he was also known, served six years in the U.S. Navy, with two years of his service time stationed in the city of Saigon, from February 1968 to December 1969. The majority of his work life was with Indiana Bell (23 years) as a Manager and the Indiana Department of Transportation (18 years) as a Real Estate Appraising and Review Supervisor.

He was a member of the Tillman H. Harpole American Legion Post 249 and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9683. He was a member of the 13 Black Cats Social Club. Bob began running to lose weight, but he enjoyed it so much that he ran the initial 500 Mini Marathon and continued running it for years thereafter. He ultimately ran the Chicago Marathon. He participated in the Million Man March in Washington D.C. During his employment at Indiana Bell, he was a loaned executive to the United Way of Central Indiana for a year. After that experience he was so impressed with the impact of United Way on the community that he became a Gold Key Club Member.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Marcia J. Anderson and brother, Maurice Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; daughters, Tamara Anderson, Cheryl L. Wilkins and Chaunda Anderson (Mark); grandsons, Justin Scott and Robert J. Anderson (Jayla); granddaughter, Celeste Anderson; brother, John Richey; nephews, Warren Dodson, Alexander Desha Richards (Joubert) and Christopher Richards; nieces, Kim Richey, Monica Richards, Leigh Parrott (Stephen) and Kimberley Woolen (Steven) and a host of cousins and friends.

A visitation for Robert will be held Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 PM.