Melvin Sidney Anderson

Dr. Melvin S. Anderson, 103, longtime Seminole resident, died Friday, February 27, 2015 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Melvin was born August 26, 1911 near Blair, Oklahoma. He was the fourth of ten children, of Sid and Cora (T’Lola) Anderson. Melvin graduated from Martha High School, Martha, Oklahoma in 1930; He attended Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater, Oklahoma and received his BS degree in 1935, and took his first teaching position at Dwight Mission, an Indian boarding school run by the Presbyterian Church, in the Cookson Hills, near Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He returned to Oklahoma A & M, in 1937 to obtain his master’s degree, which he received in 1938. He married Helen Morrison of Wetumka, Oklahoma during his Master’s study and received his first teaching job at Taylor school, in Bowlegs, Oklahoma as Principal. He taught in the public school system for seven years. After his tenure at Bowlegs, he was employed selling insurance and real estate in Wewoka, Oklahoma. In 1958 he taught at Emporia, Kansas, and while there he took a leave of absence to earn his doctorate in education administration in 1963. In 1967 he began teaching at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, retiring in 1976. From there he and Helen moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma where she died in 1981. Two years later he married Bonita Holt Newport, a teacher at New Lima School, he then moved to Seminole in 1983. Melvin was a longtime member of the Bowlegs Methodist Church. Those who knew him best appreciated his gentle humor and willingness to help those in need. Melvin’s hobbies were building, oil painting, hand loom, weaving, he built or helped to build five houses as personal residence.  He also contracted and built one house for a third party. He loved sports and while in school, he played basketball, baseball, and tennis. He was captain of the team in high school that went to the state tournaments in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1930. The team won five tournaments. Melvin is survived by his wife Bonita Anderson of Ardmore, Oklahoma, his son Sewell Sidney Anderson and his wife Judy of Eureka, California, and daughter Melrita Davis Foster and her husband George of Park Hill, Oklahoma, step son, Glenn Newport and his wife June of Pine Bluff, Arkansas and step daughter, Cathy Marshall and her husband Gary of Gordonville, Texas, grandchildren; Neil Anderson and his wife Tracey of Olathe, Kansas, Sharla Anderson Ortogero-Ewa,Hi. David Anderson, Dr. Helen Kathleen Foster Elliott and her husband Brian of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Commander Calvin Morgan Foster and his wife Nicole of Crofton, Maryland, Dr. Tol Anderson Foster of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, great grandchildren; Joshua and Avery Elliott, David, Trenton, Elizabeth and Caleb Foster, Morgan and Madeline Anderson, Christian and Aaron Ortogero,  Mr. Anderson’s sister Ruby Anderson  Cates of Visalia, California and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents his first wife Helen, a grandchild Rhanda Susan Foster in 1991.  Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, at 7th and Chestnut, Bristow, Oklahoma, with Rev. Katie Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Bristow Cemetery.  Visitations will be held at the Swearingen Funeral Home on Thursday and Friday, March 5th and 6th, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and at the  First United Methodist Church in Bristow, Oklahoma beginning at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 7, 2015. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: March 7, 2015, 1:00 PM First United Methodist Church at 7th and Chestnut Streets, Bristow, Oklahoma located at Bristow, Bristow, OK 74868