Guy Orrin Anderson

Guy O. Anderson passed away peacefully on July 28, 2021 at the age of 101. Born in Portland, Oregon on July 4, 1920, he arrived in Longview with his parents, Guy L. and Beryl C. Anderson in 1923; and except for a brief stint studying airplane mechanics at Chaffey College in California during 1946-47, he was a Longview resident for the rest of his life. A proud member of the ‘23 Club, he was also the oldest living member of the Longview Community Church, where he was active with the Work N’ Lunch Bunch and faithfully attended Sunday services until the age of 99– his father being one of the founding church members in Longview’s early days.
Anderson was a 1939 graduate of R.A. Long High School, where he was a member of the 1939 State Championship swim team. He attained the highest rank in scouting, as an Eagle Scout. It was also a source of pride for him that as a young man, he had scaled the summit of Mt. St. Helens.

As a young Navy bomber pilot, he met his late wife Ruby at the Bon Marche where she was a candy counter clerk. They married in 1946 at the Longview Community Church, and subsequently had two daughters, Gail and Jan– born in 1948 and 1953, respectively. Anderson worked for the Weyerhauser Company for nearly two decades before opening Guy’s Trailer Parts on Tennant Way in Longview in 1966, where he sold parts and accessories for RVs and motor homes. The Andersons loved trailer camping and travel, and often spent time with family on the Olympic Peninsula, Mt. St. Helens and Spirit Lake, as well as camping trips to Oregon, California, Montana, and western Canada. During their retirement years, Guy and Ruby were active members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club and attended several of its international gatherings with their Airstream trailer. A cruise to Alaska was also a” special memory of those years.

Anderson lived at the Somerset Retirement Home and Assisted Living for his last eight years; and despite becoming deaf in his early 90s, loved to meet and greet residents and staff at Somerset. Beloved by his daughters, the Rev. Janette Beryl Anderson [Marci Massoni] of Seattle and the Rev. Gail Anderson Ricciuti [Anthony] of Rochester, New York; also survived by his beloved niece Lisa Alexander Benn [Dennis] and their offspring James Benn and Jenny Benn Raffelson [Colby], all of Westport, Washington; and dear friend Linda Grauman. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 67 years Ruby Mae (nee Alexander); his parents, Guy L. and Beryl Anderson; his half-brother Carl; and countless treasured lifelong friends.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff, aides, and nurses at Somerset Retirement Community for their kindness and caring over the years; and to the staff of Community Home Health and Hospice for their attentiveness and compassion throughout the last weeks and hours of his life.

Friends and family are invited to attend a [socially-distanced] memorial service at the Longview Community Church on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. Those wishing to honor Guy’s memory may consider making donations to the Longview Community Church Memorial Fund, 2323 Washington Way, Longview, WA. 98632, or to the Longview 23 Club, P. O. Box 934, Longview, Wa. 98632 (marked “in memory of Guy O. Anderson.”)