William "Bill" Delos Anderson

William “Bill” Delos Anderson of Midland, North Carolina passed away at home on December 5, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Hawley, and his two daughters, Lucy Anderson of Charlotte, and Claire Anderson (John Kleinschmidt) of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bill was born December 21, 1950, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Delos Anderson and Eleanor Ruth Anderson, both of whom preceded him in death. His sister, Diane Harmon (Ted) of Slidell, Louisiana, also preceded him. Growing up, Bill was a proud Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. After beginning his education in a two-room schoolhouse, he was the first member of his family to attend college. He attended Michigan State University on full scholarship through the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides college scholarships for high-achieving, low-income high school graduates who caddy. At Michigan State, Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science and Turfgrass Management in 1973.

At Michigan State, he met his wife, Catherine. After college graduation, Bill and Catherine moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. His first job was working as an Assistant Superintendent at Carmel Country Club. They lived in a small house in the middle of Carmel’s grounds, lovingly nicknamed the “Caddyshack.” He became the Golf Course Superintendent, and Catherine and Bill moved to Cotswold to raise a family. He continued to work at Carmel Country Club as Director of Greens and Grounds. Bill’s time at Carmel Country Club was nothing short of remarkable, not just because of the length of his 40-year tenure. As the Superintendent at one the country’s best golf courses, he oversaw cutting-edge turf management practices on two 18-hole championship golf courses, and multiple course renovations by world-renowned golf course architects. In 2014, he became the Consulting Agronomist with the Carolinas Golf Association, visiting and providing continuing education for the next generation of Superintendents in his field.

Those who knew Bill knew he loved the game of golf. He was an active member of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, frequently speaking at conferences throughout North and South Carolina, and sharing his knowledge gained from so many years in the business. In 2008, he was honored with their Distinguished Service Award. He also served as President and Vice President of the North South Turfgrass Association and was a board member of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina.

This hardworking mentality served others off the course as well. Bill volunteered with Providence United Methodist Church and coached the girls’ softball team for ten years. Bill mentored others and helped friends, colleagues, and his daughters navigate life and career questions. No task was too small and no issue couldn’t be tackled by simply making a lengthy To-Do list.

All the while, Bill continued to play golf, where he fostered many lifelong friendships. The game took him to every stretch of the country between Florida and Washington State, and overseas to Scotland and Ireland. He loved nothing more than being outside in nature with friends and family, no matter the weather.

Bill and Catherine have been living out their dream of running a small organic farm on seven rolling acres in Midland, North Carolina, named Clear Creek Garden & Field. They grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, and native grasses and plants. Bill is famous for his homemade hot pickles, “Bill’s Dills.” Bill planned out the irrigation system in each bed of the garden. He identified all of the trees on the property and tended to the bluebird houses. He cleared the forest floor of decades of debris and built the chicken coop with his son-in-law, John. His trusty border collie, Birdie, and John Deere tractor were always nearby. Daily, Bill filled his to-do list with farm projects, ranging from the mundane job of picking up sticks to the complex formula of crop rotation and sunlight exposure. No matter the gravity of the task, all of them were equally important. In his stewardship, he created a sustainable farm and beautiful gathering place.

A celebration of Bill’s life will take place on Thursday, December 15th, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Providence United Methodist Church at 2810 Providence Road, in Charlotte. Following the ceremony, the family will host an informal gathering for his friends at Red Rocks Café at 4223 Providence Road from 4-6 pm. All are invited to come, and to come as they are.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Evans Scholars Foundation in Bill’s honor.