Donald Shirley "Bert" Anderson, passed away on February 10, 2009. He was born in King William County, the son of the late William Anderson and Virginia C. Anderson. He attended school in Chesterfield County and played baseball, football and basketball for Manchester High School. He got his Marine training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he played football for the base team. He deployed to Korea and was a member of the Marine 105th Howitzer Battalion. Bert started construction work in 1956, working in different areas, and in 1972, went into business for himself, starting D.S. Anderson Construction. He continued in this work until he retired. In 1976, he went to flight school and even though the oldest in his class, he was the first to solo. He loved hunting and fishing, and in 1979, hunted elk in Wyoming in the mountains, camping and riding horseback. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Powhatan Ruritan Club, Manchester Moose Lodge 699, past member of the Hancock Hunt Club, and member of the Reunion Group of the 105th Howitzer Battalion. Bert was an accomplished dancer and a member of the Richmond Shag Club where he danced weekly. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Anderson Ferguson and grandchildren, Jason, Matt and Sierra Ferguson; his son, Christopher W. Anderson and wife, Jennifer, and grandchildren, Meredith and Chandler Anderson; his sister, Nellie Virginia Anderson Owen of Petersburg, Tenn.; a brother, Emmett Eugene Anderson of Seminole, Fla.; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Wilson Anderson. Bert was a proud Marine, a proud man, and will be missed by his family, his neighbors (who he always helped with their projects), and his many friends. His remains rest at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and where funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Interment Dale Memorial Park.
Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2/12/2009