George Herbert Anderson

George was born on May 1, 1923 in Davenport, Iowa to Swedish immigrant parents: John Adolf Anderson and Mathilda Charlotta Krantz Anderson. George was the youngest of three children and was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gustav Adolf Anderson (wife Gerta) and sister Margaret Elizabeth Anderson Vance (husband Alex). George spent his childhood and young adult years in Davenport, Iowa where the family lived near Vanderrveer Park. George loved the Park and enjoyed ice skating in the winter and nurturing his love of nature, gardening, and hiking in the summer. George was an avid reader. He loved school, learning, numbers and making lists. George, like his parents and siblings, was a “wanderer” and walked everywhere. George was known to prefer walking to other modes of transportation when possible. After a stint in the Army during WWII he returned to Davenport, Iowa where he worked as an actuary. Following his Mother’s death, he answered his wandering spirit and moved to Venice, CA where he worked as an actuary and research librarian for a downtown LA stock broker firm until his retirement.

Upon retirement George, and his friend Earl Garrett, moved to what would become their beloved Hobby Farm just outside of Zillah, WA. George kept his hands busy with gardening both flowers and vegetables and he kept several fruit trees. After Earl’s death George moved to the bigger city of Yakima where he continued his wandering ways, walking to church and working at a local market. He grew flowers and vegetables on his apartment deck. In Yakima, George invited his new neighbor, Corry Jo Stone, to the dedication of his new church, Redeemer Lutheran Evangelical Church. He loved this church and this new community. George was an enthusiastic church participant and singer. Corry Jo became his good friend and care taker for his last years in Yakima.

George was the last of his generation and is survived by his five nieces and nephews: Cindy (Walnut Creek, CA), Alex and his wife Jamie (Neenah, WI), Sally and her husband Kern (San Francisco, CA), Betsy and her husband Robert (Roseville, MN), and Sean and his wife Gina (Flagstaff, AZ), along with 11 great nieces and nephews and 14 great-great nieces and nephews. We are especially grateful to his caregivers at Garden Village Nursing Home and to Corry Jo Stone and Ruth Eagle for the kindness, love and compassion they showed for George in his final years.

Graveside Interment: Zillah City Cemetery, 11 am Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Memorial Service: Yakima Redeemer Lutheran Evangelical Church, 10203 W. Tieton Ave., Yakima, WA 1 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017.