Robert Howard Anderson

The family of Robert (Bob) Howard Anderson, 93, of Lubbock, TX will celebrate his amazing life on August 22, 2024 at the Sunset Church of Christ. He passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024. He was born in Cleaton, Kentucky on February 21, 1931 to Estill and Virginia Mae (Lewis) Anderson, but was raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Harding University with a B.A. in Bible & Biblical Language and a M.A. in Christian Education. He also received a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from the Sunset International Bible Institute in 2009.

Bob married Cora Mae Payne on June 4, 1954 and was married for 36 years before she passed on December 5,1990. Bob & Cora’s children are Robin Hindsley (Don), April Nunn (Rick), and Robert Christopher (Linda). Grandchildren include Brittney Horn (Michael), Brianna Nunn, Sierra Anderson, Makaylee Anderson, Lillie Anderson and Terie Pendland (Aaron). Great-grandchildren include Aurora Horn, Derrick Horn, and Felix Pendland.

He married Ella Louise Miller on April 9, 1994; they were married for 28 years before she passed on August 19, 2022. Louise brought children and grandchildren into the family: Jeff Lucas (Sharon) and Becky Purser (Keith). Grandchildren include Zachary Lucas, Jordan Lucas, Alexandra Doffing, Katherine Doffing Wu (George), Janelle Purser, Dan Purser, Melissa Purser (Jack Snodgrass), and Kristen Butterfield. Great-grandchildren include Alexis Francis, Brandon Francis, Haley Purser, Samantha Purser, Autumn Purser, and one great-great-grandson, Jaxon Burche.

Bob spent his childhood developing his own way to communicate with his deaf brother, Lewis, and was the interpreter between Lewis and other family members. In 1949, a man named Sam Roach came to Harding and offered a class on sign language. Bob was the only man to “raise his hand.” Together Sam and Bob worked to grow interest in the sign language class. Bob recruited his friend, Hollis Maynard, to join the class which was the beginning of a partnership to serve the deaf community for the rest of their lives. Bob preached for the deaf in Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Maywood, California in 1961, where he served the deaf by teaching, preaching and interpreting throughout Southern California for twenty years. He became a Los Angeles Certified Court Interpreter to broaden his reach in the deaf community.

In 1982, Hollis invited Bob to move to Lubbock, Texas where he was a faculty member of the Sunset International Bible Institute for 36 years. In addition to teaching and interpreting classes at SIBI, he conducted services for the deaf congregation at Sunset, and interpreted for combined services, workshops and other countless events. He mentored deaf students and trained hearing students to sign and interpret. His love for the deaf was demonstrated in his ceaseless service to them. His students have continued his mission and carried the message of the love of God to the deaf throughout the United States and around the world.

Bob reluctantly retired from SIBI in 2018 when he and Louise moved into Brookdale senior facilities, however, he did not retire from ministry. He spent his last four years at Remington Park, where he led Sunday worship, mid-week Bible studies and occasionally other activities like exercise class, when staff was unavailable. He was well loved by both residents and staff.

He was an avid sports fan, particularly of the Chicago White Sox, Bulls and Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but he was best known for his faithfulness, gentle spirit, servant heart, integrity, grace, and loving nature. Bob was a man who exemplified God through his words and actions every day of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the deaf fund at the Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas.