JOHN W. ANDERSON

09/11/1932 - 01/11/2023

John William Anderson died on January 11, 2023, at the age of 90. He was born at his grandparents’ home in Osceola, Arkansas to Mary Hale Coston Anderson and Roscoe William Anderson. John, whose family and friends of younger days called Andy, grew up in

Paris, Tennessee where his father worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority as an engineer. He graduated from high school in Sheffield, Alabama. Shortly after graduation the family moved to Austin, Texas, and John enrolled at the University of Texas where he majored in Business Administration and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau, Silver Spurs, and the Friars. In freshman English he met Mary Sue Burks (Sue) of Austin. The couple dated throughout college, and on July 16, 1955, they were married at University Presbyterian Church. Shortly after they returned from their honeymoon in Las Vegas John was sent to serve in Korea with the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in the field artillery battalion stationed at Freedom Gate Bridge in the DMZ. While there he wrote to Sue and his mother every day. Upon returning stateside John served in the Army Reserve, and retired as a Captain.

He began his professional career in Dallas, Texas, with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and it was in Dallas that his two daughters Margery Suzanne and Jean were born. Thirty years later John retired as Vice President, assigned as General Manager of the Houston area. He had the honor of serving on the Board of Directors of Sysco Corporation, as well as on the Board of the Sam Houston Area Council of Boy Scouts.

John was a true Texan and Longhorn. He was a Texas Exes Life Member, and served as Chairman of the Board of the Student Union Alumni Advisory Council. He was a proud and generous member of the Sinclair Society.

John gifted his daughters with a love of art, literature, classical music, ballet, opera, and Gilbert & Sullivan. He will be remembered as being kind and generous and decent, a hard worker with a sophisticated and silly sense of humor, and a much loved husband and father. He lived a good life.

John was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Sue Burks Anderson, his brothers Joe Anderson and Jim Anderson, and his son-in-law Al McNamara. He is survived by his daughter Margery (Farhad) and her step-son Nader Mehr, his daughter Jean McNamara, and his grandchildren Paige McNamara and John McNamara.

The family will be eternally grateful to the staff of Bayou Manor at Brazos Towers, and especially to his beloved caregiver Mimi, who helped bring dignity and joy to his last years.

A private graveside ceremony with military honors was held at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Texas on January 20, 2023.

Donations in John’s honor may be made to the arts organization of your choice.

“Our revels now are ended…We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep”