William Herbert "Bill" Anders

Asheville - William Herbert Anders, 82, of Asheville, was born August 23, 1923 in Asheville and died December 23, 2005 at the John F. Keever Solace Center. A native of Buncombe County, Herbert was the son of the late William Bart and Jennie Watkins Anders, and the older brother of the late Charles N. Anders, who is survived by his wife, Reba S. Anders. He was a graduate of Woodfin High School and the Allied School of Technology of Chicago, IL, and was employed for over 30 years with at CTS Corporation in Arden, where he held increasing positions of responsibility as tool and dye maker, supervisor, manager, and Chief Production Engineer. A veteran of World War II, Herbert served in the US Army with the 1st Ranger Battalion (Darbys Rangers) in the North African campaign, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and Italy. After World War II, he joined and was honorably discharged from both the US Army Reserve and later, the Naval Reserve in Asheville. At age 72, Herbert traveled to LeCayes, Haiti in 1995 with the Western North Carolina Methodist Conference Building Teams program, where he actively participated in the remodeling of parsonages, churches and schools. Herbert and his late wife, the former June Aljean Goodrich, lived in Chicago and Asheville until her death in 1959. In 1979, Herbert married the former Annie O. Sprouse, and enjoyed their partnership for over 26 years. Herbert is survived by his wife, Ann; her children, Alexandria Lord of Asheville, and Paul Sprouse and wife Diane of Raleigh; his sisters, Virginia Ramsey and Christine Thomas, his brother, Gene G. Anders and wife Joanne, all of Asheville, and also by his daughter, Patricia A Coggins and husband Greg of Raleigh, and his sons, William H. Anders, Jr., and wife Joette of Greensburg, PA, Harold N. Anders of Charlotte, and David L. Anders and wife Cathy of Asheville; and by his grandchildren, who were the lights of his life: Michael E. Anders of Cleveland, OH, Ashley M. Anders of Columbus, OH, Phillip, Julie and Joey Anders of Asheville, and Sidney Julrich of Raleigh. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. Rodney H. Hagans, Jr. of Trinity United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Joseph, Phillip and Michael Anders, Paul Sprouse, Jimmy Ramsey, Perry Ramsey, Robert Rice and D.C. Whitlock. Paul Morrow of Spring Hill, FL, a lifelong friend, will serve as Honorary Pallbearer. The family wishes to acknowledge the personal and professional support and kindness of Dr. Larry Rosenburg to our father and family throughout this journey. In addition, the Anders family would like to thank all of the caring and supportive people at Mountain Area Hospice, who have helped to take such good care of our father. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25388, Asheville, NC 28813.