Warren Anderson

Warren Hackley Anderson, 97, recently of Provo, Utah, passed away on March 3, 2020. He was born on January 1, 1923, in Chalk Mountain, Texas, the 13th child of William Hackley Anderson and Viola Elizabeth Surles Anderson. Warren married the love of his life, Francine Stella Douglass, on December 12, 1953, in San Francisco, California. Francine preceded Warren in death on March 20, 2004.

Warren grew up on the Anderson family farm in Chalk Mountain, Texas. At the age of 13, with all of his older brothers married or moved away and his father running the general store in town, Warren took over the majority of the farming duties while still attending school.

In 1941, at the age of 18, Warren signed up with the National Youth Authority in Inks Dam, Texas, to learn to be a machinist. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he spent most of World War II in the South Pacific on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Hoggatt Bay. Most of Warren’s friends were killed in numerous accidents on the aircraft carrier, most notably a large explosion that occurred when a plane landed on deck with two unreleased bombs. Warren received a Navy Unit Commendation for “outstanding heroism in action” for his service aboard the U.S.S. Hoggatt Bay. He was honorably discharged in 1946, a Navy Third Class Petty Officer.

In 1947, Warren received his Private Pilot’s license in Hayward, California. In 1948, he joined United Airlines, where he worked as a maintenance inspector until 1982.

During their 50-year marriage, Warren and Francine lived in numerous cities in California, including Santa Clara, Pacifica, San Jose, and Los Gatos, before retiring to Pahoa, Hawaii, in 1982. In 1991 they moved to Madera, California. Warren and Francine loved to travel; they visited Australia, England, and Mexico, and also drove cross-country.

After Francine died of complications from pneumonia in 2004, Warren moved back to Los Gatos, California, where he met and married his second wife, Mary Hingston, on April 21, 2009. In 2013, Warren and Mary moved to Utah. Mary preceded Warren in death on March 21, 2015, due to complications from Alzheimer’s.

Warren is also preceded in death by his grandson Brandon Kaleo Anderson and all of his siblings except for Lewis Wade Anderson.

Warren was one of fifteen children: John Franklin, Mary Elizabeth, Clemmie Eugenia, William Joseph, Robert Fred, Harry Austin, Martha Virginia, Viola Vivian, Ellen Ruth, Tom Watson, Beatrice Rebecca, Evelyn Zoritta, Lewis Wade, and Ruby Thane.

Warren is survived by his children Mark Joseph Anderson, Mitchell John Anderson, Lisa Francine Anderson, and Andea Jacquelyn Anderson; his grandchildren Shane Mitchell Anderson, Michael Kaloa Anderson, Jolie Miranda Thomas, Arwen Alexandra Thiel, Maddison “Maddie” Anderson (nee Matthew Scott Anderson), Louis ZhengZhongyi Anderson, Vanessa LiliHong Anderson; and his great-grandchildren Ke’alohi Mika Anderson, Kayla Marie Anderson, Zyen Keith Anderson, Nakolo Sky Anderson, Elise Arwen Thomas, Rebecca Lynn Thomas, Ethan Hackley Anderson, Adeline Lynn Anderson, Stella Jolie Thiel, and Miles Douglas Thiel.

Warren’s ashes will be buried in the Chalk Mountain Cemetery, Chalk Mountain, Texas.