Richard T. Andersen

1928 - 2013

Richard T. Andersen, 85, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, at his home. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Monday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers: Jess Johnston, Harold Brown, James Pollard, Warren Gould, Dr. John Zerdecki, J. D. Johnson, Harry Purser, Mike Moncrief, Michael McKeithen and Laverne Parnell. Richard Theilmann Andersen was born on Aug. 29, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., son of the late Otto E. and Olga Iverson Andersen. They lived in an area of Chicago comprised of Danish, Italian and Polish immigrants and Dick spoke Danish at home and Italian and Polish on the streets. Dick entered the U.S. Marine Corps while his father was in the U.S. Navy, but was discharged early after an unfortunate football injury. He came to Fort Worth where he entered TCU and worked throughout to pay his tuition. He graduated in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in business and psychology. He began working at Dunn and Bradstreet where he met Ava, whom he married in 1952. He then worked for Kimberly Clark as a regional manager in West Texas and then Houston. He returned to Fort Worth and worked in construction and land development. Dick entered public service first as a city council member in Everman. Then, in 1968, he became the Tarrant County Precinct 1 Commissioner. He served on the National Association of Counties and enjoyed traveling. He retired as a commissioner in 1988, the same year the sub-courthouse on Alta Mesa was named the Dick Andersen Building. Dick and Ava enjoyed traveling and Dick enjoyed hunting and fishing throughtout the world. The family extends special thanks to Covenant Hospice and Dr. David Capper for the loving care given to Dick. In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his son, Curt C. Andersen. Survivors: Wife of 61 years, Ava Andersen; son, Ky Andersen; grandchildren, Mandy Hardwick and husband, Guy, Christopher Andersen and wife, Wendy, Christian Andersen and Delani Andersen, Meghen Hamp and husband, August; six great-grandchildren; numerous cousins throughout the U.S. and Canada; and Ava's brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, whom he considered as his own.