Obituaries

Earl Wayne Anderson

Photo of Earl Wayne Anderson
Earl Wayne Anderson, 91, passed away at his home, Tuesday, January 9, 2017 in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Earl was born in Butler, Missouri above the family laundry and dry cleaning business on August 26, 1925. He was the youngest of six children born to Clare and Emma Joy Anderson. Earl graduated from Butler High School in 1943. He was honored with athletic letters and many music awards at the regional and state levels. Immediately after high school he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was accepted into the pilot training program. He was later transferred to air to ground radar control where he received extensive advanced training in radar operations. After discharge in June 1946 he was one of the founding members of the popular dance band called "The Legionaires", a band composed of ret urning veterans. In the fall of 1946 he enrolled at CMSU in the returning vets accelerated program. After 2 years he devoted full time to the music industry. He worked with Jerry Whiteside band and others through 1948. In 1949 he was invited to audition for a vocalist job on a daytime radio show in San Francisco. After a year in San Francisco he married Mary Brown and returned to Missouri to finish his education at MU. He spent 22 years at the Bendix Corporation in Kansas City as a technical writer then advancing to manager of Technical & Graphic Arts. In 1956 he was elected President of Butler Country Club and led the efforts to acquiring the land and developing the present site for the club. He functioned as chair for the Butler CC trust and was responsible for fund raising and development of the CC facilities. In 1971 he moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas to accept responsibility for the construction and development of Concordia, a life care facility for seniors. In 1973 he was appointed Executive VP & COO of the corporation. In 1977 he returned to Kansas City and provided marketing services for Mid Central/Sysco where he met Bonnie. They married in 1978 and returned to Bella Vista where he resumed his first love, golf. As a teaching pro he helped many people learn golf skills and a love of the game. In conjunction, he worked in marketing for the banking industry including First Western Bank of Rogers/Bella Vista. He is survived by nieces and nephews and his wife Bonnie of 39 years. as well as a sister-in-law Barb (Dave) Dukes of Overland Park, Kansas. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, a sister and 1st wife Mary. There are no public services with private interment in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Missouri. Arrangement by the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel of Butler. Online condolences may be sent to www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Published January 12, 2017

Upcoming Events