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Kenneth B. Anderson Harrisburg, VA QCWA # 31704 |
He was born in Ladoga, Ind., on May 8, 1922, son of the late Clarence and Charlotte Smith Anderson. Ken served in the 420th Signal Corps during World War II. He received numerous distinctions and recognition for his service in the Rome-Arno and Balkan campaigns. After the war, he studied radio engineering at Valparaiso Technical Institute in Valparaiso, Ind. He joined AT&T shortly thereafter, and relocated to Vienna, Va. He resided there in Northern Virginia, in the D.C. area, working for AT&T as an engineer for 34 years. He then worked for eight years as a consultant before retiring to Englewood, Fla., in 1990, where he enjoyed the sunshine and the golf.
In 2009, he returned to Virginia, residing in Harrisonburg to be closer to family. Ken was a member of the Englewood Masonic Lodge, served as a Shriner, and was a member of the Englewood United Methodist Church. He loved being an amateur radio operator and first received his operating license in 1948. He was a lifetime member of the Vienna Wireless Society, operating under the call sign W4JQT. He was also a member of the Englewood Amateur Radio Society and the Massanutten Amateur Radio Association, among other regional radio clubs. Ken was a mentor to many in the field of radio.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Eugene and Virgil Anderson, and Evelyn Maxine Bechtel. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Ken is survived by his bride of 65 years, Alice Anderson; a son, Kenneth M. Anderson; a daughter, Kathleen McLaughlin and husband, Gregory; a brother, Richard Anderson and wife, Mary; sister-in-law, Maxine Anderson; grandchildren, Neil McLaughlin and his wife, Holly, Nathan McLaughlin and his wife, Paige, and Colleen McLaughlin and partner, Patrick McCarthy; great-grandchildren, Connor, Konstantina, Katerina, Regan and Alexander; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, family and friends.
A service of remembrance will be held Friday, April 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the Bridgewater United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Tongue officiating. Masonic Rites will conclude the service. A private burial was held at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity close to your heart in his memory. Kyger Funeral Homes of Harrisonburg has been entrusted with arrangements.