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ANDERSON Melvin H. Anderson, Jr., Col. USAF Ret passed away on January 22, 2007. He was born on August 27, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, and later moved to California with his family where his father helped build the Golden Gate Bridge. Mel graduated from Vallejo High School, California, in 1947 and later earned BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Mel served 27 years in the United States Air Force, as a pilot, squadron commander, and in Air Force military personnel. In 1952, Mel was sent to flight training in Lubbock, Texas where he met and married Mary Frances Forkner. He served in France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Vietnam, and many states in the U.S. and retired from Randolph AFB in 1978 as Director, Air Force Personnel Data Systems. Mel was then a senior research engineer at Southwest Research Institute for four years before establishing a business as a computer consultant from which he retired in 1997. Mel was a Master Mason. Mel was an amateur radio operator, call sign WB5NOL. He had been an active member of the San Antonio Radio Club, serving as Treasurer, the San Antonio Repeater Organization, serving as a Board Director, and was a life member of ARRL.Since moving to northwest Bexar County, Mel and Mary Frances became interested in learning about, and maintaining, the mixed-woods habitat found on their property. As Master Naturalists, they helped plan, establish, and maintain the San Antonio Riverwalk Wildscape Demonstration Garden. He was also a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas.Other interests included scuba diving, control line model airplanes, woodworking, home remodeling, photography and beer making. Mel is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin H. Anderson, Sr. and Catherine Debus Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Frances; his children, David Glenn Anderson and wife Samantha, Mark S. Anderson, Kathy Aline Brink and Lisa Anderson Herrmann; grandchildren Shannon Brink, Camden Anderson, Stephanie Brink, Christine Anderson, Eve Anderson and Morgan Anderson; his brother Marvin H. Anderson and wife Gladys of Mountain View, California; sister-in-law Betty Rae Sproles of Lubbock, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Alamo Area Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist, P.O. Box 690356, San Antonio, TX 78269 or the Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633 for cerebral amyloid angiopathy research. SERVICES Visitation will be held on Sunday-January 28, 2007 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday-January 29, 2007 at 9:00AM at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with full Air Force Honors. You may sign the on-line guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section. MISSION PARK FUNERAL CHAPELS NORTH 3401 CHERRY RIDGE DR. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78230 210 349-1414

Tributes

Col. Melvin H. Anderson, Jr.

August 27, 1929 - January 22, 2007