Funeral services for William Oren Anderson Sr. will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2013, at the Heartland Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in May Cemetery in May, Texas. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

He passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at the age of 89.

He was born March 11, 1924, in Brown County, to Alfred and Mary Spinks Anderson. He was a long time resident of Brown County where he held many positions of responsibility. He was a teletype operator at Camp Bowie, and a veteran from the U. S. Navy. During a period from 1948 to 1952 he was a surveyor for Gulf Oil Company and a bookkeeper for Pecos Valley Southern Railroad. In 1952 he went to work for Joe N. Weatherby and worked over 20 years as bookkeeper, shop foreman, claims representative, manager of Brown-Tex Grain Company and ranch foreman.

In 1957, he surrendered to preach and was ordained at Baptist Temple.  He pastored at Hillcrest Baptist in Brownwood and Baptist County Church in Gustine. He served as deacon at the Worship Center in Brownwood and preached there when called upon. He retired from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department as jailer.

He is survived by his loving wife, Verda Anderson; his children, William O. Anderson Jr. and wife Verna, Juana Marque Chatwell and husband Robert, Jacquelyn Dianne Anderson, Terry Dean Watts and wife Dawn, William Howard Dean and wife Janet, and Lonnie Ottis Dean and wife Lillie. He is also survived by two sisters, Wanda Morgan and husband Joe Bob of Brownwood and Billie Nelda Crane and husband Bill of Austin; his 18 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. He is survived by a host of friends and relatives.

Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.