Bobby (Bob) Eugene Anders

Bobby (Bob) Eugene Anders, age 86, Forsyth, Missouri

Bobby (Bob) Eugene Anders passed away November 22, 2023 at his home in Forsyth, Mo.  Bob was born on July 21, 1937 in rural Morgan County Alabama, the third son of John Forrest and Alma (Murphree) Anders.  The Anders family were farmers and Bob learned the farmer work ethic at a tender age, often telling the story of how his father offered him a nickel to finish working a row of cotton.  He worked like crazy to get that nickel and when he got to the end of the row as his daddy handed him the nickel he said “Now that I know you can do it, you need to stay and keep working.”!
A student when high schools offered vocational training as part of their curriculum, Bob studied to become a machinist and when he graduated from Morgan CountySchool in 1955 he continued to work on the farm with his dad but also was employed by Matthews Machine Shop.  He continued to be bi-vocational for many years farming and working for other companies like GTE, Fruehauf and Chrysler. 
Bob responded to an advertisement, and moved to Wichita Kansas to become a tool and die maker at the Boeing plant there.  During this time he purchased a Bridgeport mill and created Anders Machine Shop in his garage.  At the end of his Boeing career he was the tool and die maker in their research and development department and, along with an engineer in the department, was granted a patent for a Floating Form Die.
He took early retirement in 1998 when his wife answered God’s call to seminary and he became Mr. Mom to their young son Sean.  In 2001 when she was ordained, he became a trailing spouse, following her to six different states in the next 18 years. 
His wife introduced him to SW Missouri and Silver Dollar City at the beginning of their marriage and for years he said when he retired he wanted to go to work for them driving in the parking lot.  At the time his illness was discovered he had been Bob the Bus Driver for Silver Dollar City for over 15 years.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest and Alma Anders; brothers Claude A. Anders and James Anders; sister Rachel Ranson.  He is survived by his wife, Dixie; sons Charles (Teresa), Steven (Sherry) and Sean Anders; daughters Debbie Jones and Vickie (Danny) Harville; sisters Doris Jernigan, Marietta Johnson, Patricia Pettit and Gloria Brown; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The service will be December 6, 2023 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Kimberling City at 3:00 pm.  The Rev Tom Schacher presiding.  Internment plans in Alabama are pending.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to St Andrew Presbyterian Church, 30 James River Road, Kimberling City, MO 65686 or the Ozarks Food Harvest, P.O. Box 5746, Springfield, MO 65801-5746.  Services were entrusted to the care of Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel.