Richard C. Anderson

Waltham – Mr. Richard C. Anderson, Sr., of Waltham, died Friday, June 22, 2012 at his home. He was 84.

Richard was born in Cambridge on January 14, 1928, a son of the late Carl A. and Anna F. (Ryan) Anderson, and was raised in Somerville before moving with his family to Waltham when he was 14 and where he has lived since. He was a World War II veteran of the United States Navy having joined up with his twin brother Bob right out of high school in 1945. He served for four years before coming home to Waltham.

After leaving the service he went to college at Northeastern University in Boston where he earned two bachelor's degrees, one in business and the other in mechanical engineering. On May 6, 1950 he married his sweetheart, Anna Vanaria of Waltham, in Saint Mary's Church on School Street.

Until his retirement Richard worked as an engineer for forty-eight years for the Raytheon Company. After that he worked during tax season for the H&R Block Company. Always one with an engineer's mind and a penchant for math, Richard enjoyed teaching his children and his grandchildren to find satisfaction, enjoyment and achievement in the precision that came from both.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, Anna L. (Vanaria) Anderson, Richard leaves his children, Cheryl J. Bentley of Falmouth, Mary Jane Jacobs of Waltham, Richard C. Anderson, Jr. and his wife, Deborah, and Ann Marie Robichaud, all of Billerica; his grandchildren, David Bentley, Jr., Sheila Barter, Julie Bentley, Christie Lucente, Randall, Jeanne and Andrea Jacobs, Ens. Richard Anderson, III, USN, Keri Harbour, Elizabeth Glynn and Anna and Laura Robichaud; his great-grandchildren, Thomas, Benjamin, Olivia and Wyatt Barter, Alyson and Madeline Bentley and Matteo and Austin Lucente and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was also the brother of the late Robert C. Anderson.

Family and friends will honor and remember Richard's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, June 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Randall D. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship, c/o Gregory DeMeo, Principal, Waltham High School, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.