FORT SCOTT — William Francis Anderson, age 79, retired art instructor at Fort Scott Community College, died Sunday, December 26, 2010, at the Arma Care Center in Arma, Kansas.

He was born June 15, 1931, in Anderson, Missouri, the son of William Franklin Anderson and Beulah Hire Anderson.

He served in the United States Army.

He graduated from Pittsburg State University with his Masters in Art. He taught at the Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College. He retired from teaching in 1993. Bill was a Mason with the Kansas York Rite, and Lodge #187 Pittsburg. He belonged to the International Order of Odd Fellows, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Mirza Shriners, Elks, Kansas Retired Teachers Association, AARP, and American Legion Post #182. Bill's true passion was art, which included painting and photography. He also greatly enjoyed playing cards, traveling and fishing.

Survivors include three nephews, Le Geisler, Columbus, Kansas, George Geisler and John Shattuck, both of Pittsburg, Kansas; two nieces, Donna Geisler, Lawrence, Kansas, and Deanna Currie, Wichita, Kansas; two sisters, Georgia Geisler and Margaret Sutton, both of Pittsburg; as well as three great nieces and five great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and good friends Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Gordan.

Pastor Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services for William Anderson at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 30, in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Pittsburg. Military honors will be conducted by Albert M. Wheeler Post #1158 V.F.W. Pittsburg. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Thursday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Fort Scott Community College Endowment Association and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.