Wilma Deanne Anderson, 94, of Houston, Mo., passed away June 3, 2018, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. She was born March 26, 1924, in Glendale, Ariz., to Homer and Dora Belle (Morrow) Kerby.
Wilma grew up in Chandler, Ariz., and graduated from Chandler High School. She married Raymond “Andy” Anderson on April 21, 1943, in Chandler, Ariz., and to this union one son, Jon Kerby Anderson, was born. Jon died in 1982, leaving two young sons. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her husband and three sisters, Josephine Holt, Alva Stiefel and Norma Jeanne Simmons.
Wilma was a member of the Houston United Methodist Church for a number of years and also Houston Christian Church. She was very active both churches. She was a member of the choir and played the piano. She enjoyed playing for the residents at Houston House. Wilma loved to travel, entertain, garden, cook and bake for her family. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Wilma was very active in the Texas County Federated Republican Women. She served as its president from 1991-’94, formed two new chapters and served on the Republican Central Committee for the 8th district. She received the Woman of Tribute award from the State of Missouri in 1994, the first such tribute in the State.
Her professional career was in Civil Service, in the personnel department, at numerous Air Force Bases; this was predominantly during the period of time that Andy was on active duty in the United States Air Force.
Wilma is survived by two grandsons, Sean Kerby and Kelly Glen Anderson; her great-grandsons, Jon Kerby Anderson II and Ian Anderson; her great-granddaughters, Victoria Alexandra Anderson, Morgan Elizabeth and Reagan Faith Anderson; a daughter-in-law, Margaret Anne Anderson Depuy; two nieces, Susan Appelbaum (Simmons) of Florissant, Mo., and Diane Villegas (Holt) of Tucson, Ariz.; four nephews, Tom Simmons of Oracle, Ariz., Jeff Simmons of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Steve and Rick Stiefel of Fullerton, Calif.; several cousins and great-nieces and -nephews.
Services were 11 a.m. Thursday, June 7, 2018, at Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry Lippstreu officiating. Burial was in Missouri Veterans Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C., 20090-6011.
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