WILLIAM “BILL” BAYLOR ANDERSON,
71, of North Little Rock, Ark., passed away Sunday, January 17, 2021. Bill Anderson was born August 29, 1949 in Little Rock, Ark. He was son of Baylor and Ethel Anderson in Crossett, Ark. As the first member of the Anderson family with a college degree, he graduated from the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture. After a working for an architecture firm in Little Rock, Bill started his own architecture practice in 1988, ‘William B. Anderson, Architect P.A.’ This was not only his career, but it was also a passion of his.
While Bill designed close to 100 hundred projects for his practice’s main client, he also designed numerous local projects. These included the Lakewood Property Owner’s Association Pool House, Timber Creek Condominiums, The William F. Laman Library and numerous homes and lake houses for close friends.
Bill’s completed projects were outstanding, but the most admirable aspect of his work was the simple fact that he loved what he did every day. He was the picture-perfect example of getting paid to do what you loved. He didn’t consider his architecture ‘work,’ but more of a passion. Every person dreams to discover this same phenomenon, and he was extremely successful in doing so.
Although Bill was a sought-after architect, this was only one of his many artistic talents. Bill Anderson was an extremely gifted artist. Aside from his architectural accomplishments he created sketches, portraits, paintings and watercolors at a professional level. I (his 24-yearold son, Jacob Baylor Anderson) cannot express the level of artistic masterpiece that went into each and every one of his pieces. A selection of his work will be on display at his visitation.
Although Bill was an exemplary architect and a top-notch artist, his utmost love was music. As a young kid, Bill fell in love with music. He loved everything about music, from the rhythm and singing to each and every instrument involved in the production of each song. He found a special love for bluegrass and folk music. He idolized all-time greats such as Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, J.D. Crowe, Bob Dylan, Robby Boone, The Stanley Brothers, and the list goes on. Many of these great musicians had the pleasure to talk and play with Bill at some point in time.
Bill spent countless hours playing his numerous banjos and guitars around the house, but his best and most memorable times were spent with the Old School Bluegrass Band (pictured). The OSBGB consisted of banjoist Bill Anderson, guitarist Danny Trawick, mandolinist Bill Nesbitt and bass guitarist Glen Waldo.
Aside from the band’s popular success, Bill was individually the best banjo picker in the state and a top talent in the country. Bill Anderson had an extremely unique and impressive resume of accomplishments that position him to be one of the most artistically talented people to ever walk this Earth. No other person will ever be gifted with such a vast array of abilities that seamlessly portray that individual’s spirit the way that Bill Anderson was.
While his accomplishments and talents were extremely unique, nothing will be more unique than Bill Anderson’s personality. Bill Anderson was truly one of a kind. He was the most generous and loving person ever placed on this planet. He was the epitome of selfless. He left an everlasting impression on anyone that ever met him.
He loved when I wanted to bring friends over to his house. His house was always the place for my buddies and me to hang out and he loved it. He loved meeting and getting to know every one of them, and not a single friend of mine didn’t enjoy a meal on Bill Anderson’s dime. One of his most impressive virtues was his honesty. Anyone who knows Bill knows this too. He was the most genuinely happy person I’ll ever meet. Not a single day went by that he was in a bad mood.
Bill Anderson was the best man to ever walk this earth and the best dad a son could ever ask for. I’ll never be able to put how amazing he was into words. Not a single minute will go by that I don’t think of you and wish you were back on this planet with me. I have no clue how I’m going to get through each day without having you to talk to. Losing your dad is bad enough but losing your best friend at the same time is indescribable. The only thing that’ll get me through every day is knowing that you’re up above watching over me. God blessed you with much more time on this Earth than we ever expected and you made every second count. You’re in a better place now and I can’t wait to join you in Heaven one day.
A celebration of his life will be held through a visitation from 3-5 p.m., Saturday January 23, 2021, at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. State of AR COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required. Maintain social distancing. Online guestbook www.SmithFamilyCares.com