John Wilbur Anderson

Anderson...John Wilbur Anderson, 96, resident of Anderson, passed away in Anderson Sunday morning. He was born in Paulding, Ohio, May 19, 1921, the son of Oren Haines Anderson and Rietta Grace Wright Anderson.He was a 1939 graduate of Lapel High School and worked along side his father on the family farm in Hamilton, County.He worked at Delco Remy General Motors and enlisted in the US Navy serving in WW 2. He served on board the USS Lackawanna (AO-40). His ship serviced the fleet throughout the Pacific including the Liberation of the Philippines, Leyte Gulf and Guadalcanal.He attended the Middletown United Methodist Church and was a member of the Noblesville Lodge F and AM, #57He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife: Ruth, 2 sisters: Shirley Morgan and Doris Clark, 2 grandchildren: Jason Bemish and Heather Bemish and 1 great grandchild: Nathan McDowell.Survivors include his children: Jeanne Blake (Charles) of Anderson, Barbara Smith of Casa Grande, AZ, Carl (Brenda) Anderson of White Hall IL, and Rex (Sheila) Anderson of Logansport, 1 sister: Norma Musselman of Pittsboro, best friend: Richard ""Dick"" Parrish of Anderson, grandchildren: Eric Smith (Jessica), Darin Smith (Shawnnan), Stacie Blake, Bryan Blake (Melinda), Melissa Stewart (Chad), Kimberly Penunuri, Ashley Hawes, Jennifer McDowell (Brent), Lauren Anderson, Jaime Cochran (Casey), Nichol Anderson, Charles Anderson (Leslie), Shelly Anderson (Mitch), Brandon Wilson and Andrew Wilson, 23 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.A Celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, 118 South 5th, Middletown. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery in Lapel.Friends may call from noon until the time of the service on Wednesday.Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.Online Guestbook at: www.ballardandsons.comThe Ballard family is honored to celebrate the life of John with family and friends.