Charles William Anderson

Charles William ?Bill? Anderson was born on February 27, 1945 to Max and Helen Anderson.  At the time, his father was stationed at Wendover Field (Army Air Corps bomber training base) in Utah.  After the war, the family moved to Southern California, where Max worked as a carpenter.  Over the next ten years, his sister Carol and brother Mike joined the family.  Bill attended elementary, middle and high school in Lynwood, California, and in 1959, during his sophomore year, the family moved to Idaho seeking steady work for Max.  Since Bill?s mother was born and raised in Idaho, and Max had numerous relatives in the area, they were well received, and the family stayed for about three years.    Bill continued school in Idaho and graduated from Caldwell High School in 1962.  Around that time, the family returned to Southern California, and shortly after that, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  While in the service, he trained and worked in weapons control systems maintenance, primarily on F-14 Phantom fighter jets.  Later, he was given security clearances that allowed him be a trainer for the handling of special weapons.  During his three and a half years in the Air Force, Bill served in the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.  He was honorably discharged in 1969 with the rank of Airman 1st Class.   After leaving the service, Bill worked as an electronics technician in Southern California where he met and married Jan Ashcraft.  They settled in San Marcos a small, new community in California that they liked, and Bill began a new career as a diesel mechanic.  As San Marcos grew, the couple felt the urge to relocate to a quieter place, and bought land in Chino Valley, Arizona.  During the next two years, Bill built a house on their land, and he and Jan settled in.  Unfortunately, some time later, the couple separated and eventually divorced.  Jan still resides in the Prescott area.   In 1986, Bill met Sandy Davis, and two years later they were married.   During the early part of their marriage, they lived in the San Francisco Bay area and Las Vegas.  After a time, though, they returned to Chino Valley, and lived happily together until her unexpected death in April of 2003.  This was an especially difficult period in Bill?s life during which he lost both his wife and sister within a year of each other.  His sister Carol and her husband Larry McEachron had already made retirement plans to move to Chino Valley, and the four were looking forward to spending time together.  Shortly after Carol and Sandy?s deaths, Larry moved to Chino Valley and built a house on land next door to Bill?s.    One of the most important things in Bill?s life was the local American Legion post in Chino Valley.  He was heavily involved in the post, and served on the executive board, as well as playing other roles in post?s day-to-day activities, including being the Honors Director.    Since he was young, Bill enjoyed model railroading more than any other hobby.  He was an active member of the Central Arizona Model Railroad Club (CAMRRC), and participated in many club events, plus helping with American Legion decorations by furnishing Christmas train displays each year.   Another very positive thing that emerged during the last years of Bill?s life was the advent of family reunions from his mother?s side of the family.  Bill was able to attend four separate March ?cousin? reunions in different parts of the country, and become reacquainted with long lost relatives.  He greatly enjoyed these events, and was loved by all who attended.   The most important part of his life during this last year was his girlfriend, Vickie Daniel.  They met through the American Legion post, and quickly became devoted to each other.  Vickie traveled with Bill to California last summer and met his brother Mike and his family, and also went with Bill to the most recent March family reunion in Omaha in September.  Vickie and Bill were constant companions and clearly loved each other very much.    Happily, this year (like most years) Mike and his family spent Thanksgiving in Chino Valley, and had a wonderful time together with close friends and family.  As usual, the group would gather during the evenings at Betty Smith?s place for dinner and games.  Over the years, Bill had become like family to Howard and Betty.    Bill is survived by his brother Mike and family, his four nieces, Vicki Heerschap and Shelley Anderson (children of Mike) and Stacy Norman and Geni Walton (daughters of his sister Carol), and his brother-in-law, Larry McEachron.