Gary Robert Anderson

Gary Robert Anderson, 94, a US Air Force Veteran and resident of the California Veterans Home in Yountville, California since 2018, passed away there on February 18, 2024. 

Gary was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 7, 1930 and spent his early years in Arizona and Southern California before joining the Air Force in 1947.  His Air Force career included service as a Communications Specialist with the 7th Radio Relay Squadron as a Radio Relay Tech and as a Radio Operator in Germany, Japan, Korea, France and California.  His Air Force career also included work as a B-52 Aircraft Navigation Systems Technician.  He also had the honor of representing the 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing in the Strategic Air Command’s (SAC) 15th Combat C competition.  

Following his retirement from the Air Force at Beale Air Base in California in 1967, he joined California Microwave, In Sunnyvale, California.  He later worked as a real estate broker and as a Radio Communications Specialist at the Sacramento Army Depot.  Gary was an active shortwave radio operator most of his adult life and used the operator handle K6OJP.

Gary married Maria Christine Lidzba in Munich, Germany in 1949 and she pre-deceased him in 2014.  He leaves behind two daughters, June McCabe and Glenda Anderson, a son, Perry Anderson, one grandchild, Jennifer Panora, and two great grandchildren, Sean Panora and Summer de Jesus.  He also leaves behind two brothers, Harry Gammie and Wayne Gammie.

Gary and his wife, Maria Christine, were long-time members of St. Mel’s Catholic Church in Fair Oaks, California and they were both active in the church’s social and charitable programs.

He was also active in the Knights of Columbus for more than 45 years and he was particularly proud of his service to that organization when he became a Fourth Degree Knight in 2005.

Gary is remembered by his family as a talented artist and as someone who was always ready for a road trip.  He also followed through on a childhood passion for horses and became a horse owner in his retirement years.

A  memorial service will be held at Price Funeral Home Chapel in Citrus Heights, California on March 1st at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow alongside his wife, Maria Christine, at the National Military Cemetery in Dixon, California at 1:15 PM. 

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