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RANDALL DEAN ANDERSON ~ Class of 1970wb
December 23, 1951 - July 14, 2004
Randy Anderson died on July 14, 2004 at his home in Mulino, Oregon.
Randy was born to Murl Wayne Anderson and V. Roselea "Eddy" Anderson, on December 23, 1951.
During his 14 years in Silverton, Randy attended Eugene Field School and Mark Twain School,
excelling in basketball, baseball, and track. He also participated in student government,
and earned the God and Country award as a Boy Scout. His family then moved to Eugene, OR;
Richland, WA; and Honolulu, HI (where Randy graduated from high school in 1970). Randy was a
talented high school athlete, playing varsity football and baseball at Richland High School,
and varsity football at Punahou School in Honolulu.
After graduation from Punahou, he attended the University of Idaho on a ROTC scholarship,
later transferring to Oregon State University and graduating with a degree in Political
Science in 1977. Randy played on the OSU Rugby team for several years, and there made lasting
friendships with his rugby teammates. He, along with fellow Silvertonian Rene Cardiff, was a
member of the 1975 OSU Wales Touring Side, when the team traveled to Wales to challenge the
vaunted sides from the very homeland of rugby.
Randy also developed a passion for world and military history and contemporary political
events, possessing an encyclopedic expertise in those disciplines. Following graduation from
OSU, he went on to obtain credentials as a Registered Nurse, and practiced nursing for several
years in Reedsport, Newport, Eugene, and Salem, where he was a case manager in a Marion County
program for people with disabilities. His compassion and affection for people with illness and
disabilities drove his desire to be a nurse.
Randy fondly recalled his work as a forest firefighter in the mid 1970s, when he was based in
Klamath Falls and fought fires throughout the western states. He was a gifted artist, wowing
his friends and family with detailed pen drawings. He also excelled at model airplane
construction and painting, and even through his extended illness and physical disability at
the end of his life, he continued this creative work. His undying love of dogs and all animals
was well known, as often took in strays and provided them with kindness and shelter.
Randy married his Hawaiian high school sweetheart Gloria Brito in 1991, and created a life
with her in Salem until her death in 1993. He was fond of Hawaiian music and culture and
knowledgeable about Hawaiian history. He later became engaged to Arlene Sprague of Mulino, who
cared for him with great compassion as he became ill and until his death.
Randy had a life-long commitment to civil rights and to lifting up people who were less
fortunate than he. Even through numerous brushes with adversity, he conducted himself with
dignity, honor, decency and courage. His sense of humor was playful and warm, and he could
crack up an entire room by simply making a hilarious face.
Randy is survived by his father Murl, brother Jim ('72WB) and sister-in-law Pat, fiancée
Arlene and her children Ry-Anne and Kris. Randy's mother, Roselea, died in 2003.
A graveside service will be held at Valley View Cemetery in Silverton at 2:00 pm on Saturday,
July 24, with a celebration of his life at 3:00 pm at Unger Funeral Home, 229 Mill Street in
Silverton. For directions or more information, contact Jim Anderson at
jima@drizzle.com
Memorial contributions of money or time may be made in Randy's name to John Kerry for
President, 2901 E. Burnside, Portland, Oregon, 97214, ph. 503-239-6001.