Obituary
Robert Buehn Anderson passed away on October 27, 2023 in Little River, South Carolina after his
heroic battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on May 1, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to William Lucius Anderson, Jr. of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and his wife, Adelene Sophie Buehn
Anderson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Not originally from Texas, Bob later adopted Texas as his home state, receiving honorary citizenship
from Texas Governor William P. Clements. It’s been said, “He was Yankee by birth but Texan by
the grace of God.”
Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marjorie Onene Bowers Anderson, originally of
Giddings, Texas, and his brother James G. Anderson of Palo Alto, CA.
He is survived by his three daughters Kristine Adele Anderson of Houston, Texas, Mary Aileen
Anderson of Dallas, Texas, and Kathleen Louise Anderson Fensterbush and her husband, Rev. Bruce
Ernest Fensterbush, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina. He is survived by his three grandchildren,
Erica Michelle Fensterbush and her partner, Jordan DeVos, of Austin, Texas, Joshua Andrew
Fensterbush and his wife, Nicole Price Fensterbush, of Federal Way, Washington, and Olivia
Clement Dittrich and her husband, Austin Dittrich, of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his sister
Jeanne Fistedis of Boston, Massachusetts, his sister-in-law, Lynne Anderson, of Palo Alto,
California, and several nieces and nephews.
As a young boy he assisted with all types of farm work and odd jobs on his family farm, Will-Adele
Farm in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. A bright and gifted student, he graduated from Haverford
School in Haverford, Pennsylvania at the age of 16 in 1942 and entered Princeton University at the
age of 17 in 1943. He was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14.
Bob left Princeton University and the family farm to join the United States Navy on June 5, 1944. D-Day occurred the following day, June 6, 1944. Having earned his Private Pilot’s License in 1942 at
the age of 16, he served as an airplane mechanic in the Advanced Base Naval Aviation Training Unit,
Naval Aviation MTD, the Memphis Air Station, and the Norfolk Naval Air Station. He received an
Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy on July 4, 1946, as Aviation Machinist’s Mate
Second Class USN-I (SA) and received the American Area Victory World War II Medal.
He was a staunch Patriot of the United States of America, its Constitution, and the principles upon
which the country was founded. Bob was a Hereditary Member of The Delaware State Society of the
Cincinnati and was a great-great-great grandson of Captain Enoch Anderson who served in Colonel
David Hall’s Regiment under Commander George Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during
the Revolutionary War – U.S. War of Independence.
Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Bob returned to Princeton University to complete his studies
and graduated in 1949 (as a member of the Class of 1947), earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Petroleum Engineering.
Bob married Marjorie Onene Bowers on June 25, 1949 in Beaumont, Texas. He was employed by
Sun Oil Company in Beaumont, Texas, initially working as a Roustabout, Roughneck, and Mud
Man, and later served in various engineering and management positions in Sun Oil Company’s
Production Department in Beaumont, Texas.
In 1965, Sun Oil Company chose Bob to participate as a Sloan Fellow at The Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Industrial
Management. His experience at MIT was the launching pad to his future career in oil and gas
drilling and production with Sun Oil Company. During his career with Sun, he served in various
capacities, including Manager of Profits Improvements Project, Dallas, Texas; President of Sun
Services Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and President of Sun Gas Company, Dallas,
Texas. He also served as President of R.B. Anderson Energy Company, Dallas, Texas; Senior Vice
President of Sunshine Mining Company, and President of the Oil & Gas Group of Sunshine Mining
Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Woods
Petroleum Corporation and various subsidiaries, Dallas, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Bob served as Chairman, Babe Zaharias LPGA Open held at the Beaumont Country Club (1952);
President, Beaumont 20-30 Club (1953; Member 1951-1960); Boy Scouts Camping and Activities
Chairman, Beaumont Council (1952-1955); Board of Directors, Beaumont Country Club (1959-
1960); Board of Directors, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania (1971-1991); Princeton
University Class of 1947 Treasurer; Princeton University Class of 1947 Southwest Class Agent;
NorthPark National Bank Board, including the Executive Committee, and as Chairman of Loan
Committee and Audit Committee; Board of Directors for the Dallas Symphony, during which time
the Directors created the Summer Event – “Star Fest”; Southern Methodist University Foundation of
Business Administration, Dallas, Texas; and, Board of Directors for Coho Energy Corporation in
Dallas, Texas and Calgary, Canada.
He was a “good and faithful servant,” devoting countless hours of service to the Episcopal Church,
individuals in need, and various charitable organizations. He received the Sacramental Rite of
Confirmation on November 20,1949 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Beaumont, Texas, and served
in various capacities at each Episcopal Church he attended during his lifetime.
Bob lived life to the fullest and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed golfing, upland bird hunting,
duck hunting, and fishing. One of his great loves was sailing. We have heard it said that he could sail
before he could walk. He participated in many sailboat races and sailed bareboat several times
around the American and British Virgin Islands, and the Windwards.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala
Cynwyd, PA, in the Chapel of Peace on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a
Military Graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Tunnel to Towers, Wounded Warrior Project, or St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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