David Gordon Anderson Sr.

David Gordon Anderson, Sr. died on July 18, 2023. He was born on November 9, 1934 in Fergus Falls, MN, to Arnold L. and Dorothy ( McCloud ) Anderson. Dave leaves behind three sons, Robert, Matthew, Christopher, and his daughters-in-law, Karen, Cindy, and Mindy, as well as seven grandchildren, Christopher, Katie, Caroline, Mollie, Wyatt, Gordon, and Gunnar. His oldest son David Jr. preceded him in death in 2017.

David graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1952, then attended technical school before enlisting in the Army in 1955. He attended the Signal Corps School and the Army Security Agency School until 1957, then served in Baumholder, Germany until 1958 when he was honorably discharged. David accepted an overseas position with the Bendix Corporation in Antofagasta, Chile where he operated technical equipment in a NASA satellite tracking station in the early days of the space program. There Dave met his wife Tammy (Tamara), a native of Antofagasta, before moving to Santiago where he assumed management of another satellite tracking station. He moved the family, including three sons, to Barstow, CA in 1968 where he managed NASA’s Goldstone satellite tracking station. In 1973 he moved the family, now with four sons, to Brevard, NC were he managed yet another satellite tracking station, at the time the largest such facility in the world outside the Soviet Union. Many summer memories were made in the family pop-up camper visiting beach campgrounds in places like Myrtle Beach and St. Augustine as well as his parents’ home on Balsam Lake, WI. When his sons played youth football in Brevard, Dave was not only there, he was the announcer on the PA system calling the action. In 1979 his work moved him and the family to Saudi Arabia, where he oversaw the operation of a Saudi naval base on behalf of the US Army Corps of Engineers. During those years he took the family of vacations to Spain and Egypt but also back to the US where they spent the summer of 1981 creating life-long memories with his sons traveling the country in a Winnebago visiting classic American destinations including Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands of South Dakota, rafting the Snake River in Wyoming, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Alamo, and many other historic locations. Dave lived in Virginia Beach from 1982 - 1992, where he explored consulting opportunities and enjoyed much-needed time off with his sons. In 1993 he moved to Columbia, MD, and began working for a technical training company in Columbia, MD, until he retired in 1998.

During his time in Maryland, Dave became Granpa to his 7 grandchildren. He was a voracious reader and set many Columbia Library book reading records. He shared his love of reading by taking his grandchildren to dinner, Barnes & Noble dates, or reading stories during family gatherings. Dave spent his retirement attending family dinners, celebrations, and the annual Anderson Family Deep Creek trip. He shared his intellect and entrepreneurial spirit with his sons during long conversations about business, current events, sports, and more. He also enjoyed sharing childhood memories with the family. His ability to tell a good story with a quick wit commonly resulted in laughter and, once in a while, tears. One of Dave’s special memories was celebrating his 80th birthday with the family, where the grandchildren made signs and celebrated him. In typical Dave style, it was a simple gathering surrounded by those he loved and included something sweet to eat.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, 7250 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075 (Exit 6 South off Route 100) on Monday, July 24, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Inurnment will be private at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, Dave's family wishes donations to be made to Reading is Fundamental. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/donate/1280334495939678/?fundraiser_source=external_url__

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.garylkaufmanfuneralhome.com for the Anderson family.