Charles William Anderson

Charles William Anderson

1935 – 2023

Charles William Anderson passed away peacefully, at his home on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.  He was 87.  Charles was a devoted family man and a faithful Christian.  He was proud but humble.  Anytime someone tried to give him praise he would quickly turn the attention to others who had contributed “far more” than he had.

He was born in Enid, OK, on September 14, 1935, surprising his parents, Lloyd and Marjorie Anderson by arriving several weeks early, and weighing only 3 ½ pounds. This early arrival was only the first of a lifelong practice for Charles.  He always felt he was late if he was not at least 10 to 15 minutes early for any appointment or gathering.  He had one brother, Sam, and two sisters, Joy and Kay.

Charles graduated from Blue Jacket High School and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before enrolling in Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater.  After he graduated in Stillwater, he would tell people that he had two diplomas, one from OK A&M and one from OSU, explaining that the name of the school changed in 1958, the year he graduated, and when they asked him if he wanted a diploma from A&M or OSU he told them “both.”  While at OSU he was a member of the award-winning livestock judging team and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.  As a proud OSU alumnus, Charles was active in many alumni organizations and activities some of which included being the National President of the OSU Alumni Association, instituting the high school academic honors banquets to help recruit the best and brightest of the top 10% of Oklahoma high school Seniors to attend OSU, and serving on the OSU Foundation Board of Governors and the Athletic Council.  He was a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association and received the OSU Alumni Service Award in 1988.

Charles met the love of his life while he was at OSU.  He and Joyce Marie Richey were married on August 18, 1957.  Charlie counted this as “the smartest achievement of his life”. They were married for 43 years before she died, far too young.   Charles and Joyce had 3 children: Renee Marie, Russell Scott, and Rodney Lloyd.  He was a devoted family man and made it a point to be involved with his children in 4-H and FFA projects, sports, and church activities.  Throughout their marriage, he and Joyce enjoyed attending sporting events, involving their children, grandchildren, and all the OSU sport’s teams, and traveling with their friends.  On July 31^st, 2010, several years after Joyce died, Charles did the second smartest thing of his life, by marrying his current wife Sue and inheriting five more children. They continued to pursue his love of all things OSU and spending time with kids and grandkids including Sue’s 13 grandchildren whom he immediately claimed as his own. Sue also introduced him to international travel where he fell in love with Switzerland.

Charles and Sue are members of First Christian Church in Edmond.  He was a strong Christian, growing up in the Disciples of Christ church.  Throughout his adult life it was a priority for him to be involved in service to the church: singing in the choir, serving on committees and the church board, teaching Sunday School or serving as a deacon or elder.  

Charles was involved in a life of public service starting early with the Vinita Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club where he served as the NE District Governor. He also served with several different state and federal agencies over his career.   While working for the Department of Agriculture he was very proud to be involved in organizing the first Farm Aid Concert in Oklahoma during his appointment by Governor Bellmon as director of a task force to help farmers in crisis.   Upon his retirement from his position as a Sergeant at Arms for the Oklahoma State Senate, he was honored for over 60 years of service to the state.

Charles is survived by his wife, Sue; children Renee and her husband Charles, Scott and his wife Tracie, and Rod; one sister Kay and her husband Eugene; brothers-in-law Bill Stoner, Jack, and his wife, Ty Richey, sister-in-law Betty Anderson; grandchildren Josh, Caleb, and Madison; his step-children and their families, several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family members as well as a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Joyce Anderson Scholarship at the OSU Foundation, OSU Athletic Program, Wounded Warriors, or St. Jude’s.

Visitation will be held Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, OK.

Services will be held Monday, April 17, 2023, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church, Edmond, OK. Interment is to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK.