Ray Lynn Anderson

1943 - 2018

A much beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather, Ray Lynn Anderson, 74, died at home with his family in Sparks, Nev., on March 19, 2018, from swift-moving pancreatic cancer.
The sixth of seven children, Ray was born in Wichita, Kan. After nearly four years' active duty as an electronics technician in the U.S. Navy, he married Vivian, who he met while at School of the Ozarks Junior College. He later received a degree in mathematics from UMKC.
An engineer at heart, Ray spent 28 years as an NAVAIDS equipment installer/technician, and later an electronics engineer and project manager for the Federal Aviation Administration. In 1983, he accepted a transfer, moving his family from the Midwest to much chillier Bethel, Alaska, and later Anchorage, Alaska, where they lived for 23 years.
Ray loved to tour family and friends around Alaska, and to visit his extended family everywhere from Seattle, Wash., and Los Angeles, Calif., to Florida and Louisiana. After retiring, he split his time between grandchildren in Nevada and Vivian's family in Arkansas. He enjoyed reading, NCIS, puns, sudoku, attending plays and musicals, and doting on his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Vivian Anderson; his sons, Keith (Erin) Anderson and Patrick (Jacie) Anderson; his daughter, Rachel Anderson; and his grandchildren, Abbay, Merryn and Beckett. He is also loved and will be missed by his nieces, Kay, Anita, Sharon Kay, Rosie, Bertie, Melody and Linda; and nephews, Mark, Glenn and Buddy; as well as by brothers-in-law, Don (Milly) Minge, Roger (Harriet) Minge and James Minge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Effie and Orville; brothers, Vincent, Bill, Robert, Jack and Douglas; and sister, Frances.
In lieu of flowers, please join Ray in supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with a donation made in Ray's name.