Barbara Anderson's Obituary
Despite doctors telling her in her 20s that she would become crippled from MS, Barbara managed to push through the chronic illness and create a life with her beloved husband Richard. Barbara Jean (Huppert) Anderson, 92, of Tacoma, Washington, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones at Northern Living Center.
She was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 27, 1932, to Alex and Lydia (Grenz) Huppert. As a girl, she liked to read and swim. She shared memories of her parents helping with the war effort in the Pacific Northwest by taking in boarders and being sure the neighborhood lights were out come evening. She met her husband-to-be at Surprise Lake when he pushed her off the dock. Things must have gotten better from there because they married when she was 18. Her “honeymoon” was a week-long bout with sea sickness as she took a boat to meet her husband at his Coast Guard posting in Hawaii. Once there, she enjoyed working as a secretary for a sugar cane company; she continued to use those skills once they returned to Tacoma, working for a judge as a legal secretary. She then focused on home life, embracing motherhood and home-making, especially baking sweets. Barbara loved to read, and she continued to develop her love of painting and crafting while nurturing her children and exposing them to all aspects of art and culture through museums, music, and parks. She also maintained friendships with three women she met during her son’s preschool years, having birthday lunches together for more than 50 years. Her great love was her husband and she supported him and enjoyed their activities together; they loved to antique and travel and would always come home with little souvenirs as remembrances of their outings. In 2014 she and Richard relocated to Alaska where they lived with their daughter, and where their son was able to visit.
She lived nine months after the death of her husband of 71 years, Richard Anderson, and is survived by son Kris Anderson; daughter Kerry (Lance) McKimson; three grandchildren, Brandy (Duane) Carpenter, Nathaniel (Kendra) McKimson, and Bryan (Ali) McKimson; and six great-grandchildren, Ruston, Winsor, Wanda, Royce, Daisy, and Harbor. As she wished, she will be interred with her husband Richard at Mountain View Funeral Home April 18, 2024
What’s your fondest memory of Barbara?
What’s a lesson you learned from Barbara?
Share a story where Barbara's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Barbara you’ll never forget.
How did Barbara make you smile?
