Lt. Col. George Byars "Buck" Anderson Sr.

- CHESTER Lt. Col. George Byars "Buck" Anderson Sr. passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of June 23, 2009.

He was born in Chester and lived away for 40 years but returned to the town and home he loved. In a world of constant change, he died in the same bedroom he was born in.

He was predeceased by his parents, Joe Emory Anderson and Ruby Ruth Byars and his brother, Dr. James T. "Crack" Anderson, all also of Chester.

He was a soldier, first as a reserve officer after graduation from Clemson A&M College in 1951 and then in the U.S. Army for 23 years, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served in wars in Korea and Vietnam and as a military advisor in Thailand.

Lt. Col. Anderson proudly served with units of the 180th Infantry, 45th Division (Japan and Korea); 101st Airborne Infantry Division; 8th Division Artillery, 505th Regiment, 82nd Airborne; U.S. Army Alaska; 3rd Missile Battalion; 4th Army, 8th Division (Germany); as adviser to the Army Reserve (Rock Hill, York and Lancaster) and assistant professor of military science (Auburn University).

His favorite post was as commander for the 3rd Battalion of the 13th Field Artillery (Hawaii), which included cannon salutes to three U S. presidents.

Lt. Col. Anderson was awarded the Bronze Star (two oak leaf clusters), including one for the rescue of two wounded soldiers, carrying them to a waiting helicopter while crossing open terrain under heavy enemy fire. He also received the Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster) and numerous campaign medals and meritorious service citations. He was always recognized for outstanding devotion to duty, using the best of his talents and bringing those qualities out of everyone under his command.

He loved the town and its people, working first with the Chester Building and Loan (later First Federal then BB&T) and thereafter in real estate. He was a tireless volunteer, past president of the Lion's Club and the Civitans and a longtime member of the VFW and American Legion. Lt. Col. Anderson was a loyal member of First Baptist Church and the Ben Plyler Sunday School class. Nothing pleased him more than to have members of his family together for a meal, an offer extended to many friends, and no one more often than Jim "Mullethead" Day, his lifelong best friend.

Anderson is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy Collins Anderson; and his three sons, Richard Wyman Anderson (Elizabeth, Collin and Leah), Robert Emory Anderson (Barbara, David, Denny and their children) and George Byars Anderson Jr. (Lisa, Zachary and Ashley).

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Chester First Baptist Church. The Rev. Clay Waldrip will officiate and Mr. Robert Anderson, son of Lt. Col. Anderson, will speak.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, at Pollard Funeral Home, 115 York St., Chester.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers or food that any memorials please be made to the Building Fund of Chester First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 518, Chester.

Pollard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.