Lark David (LD) Anderson

Lark David (LD) Anderson (1928-2023)

Lark David (LD) Anderson passed peacefully on March 18, 2023.  He was almost 95 years old.  LD was born in Oklahoma on June 10, 1928 to Tressie and Jessie Anderson.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Ray, Carl and Kenneth Anderson, his beloved wife Mary and his cherished son Donald Gene.  He is survived by his brother Jessie Anderson, sisters Dorothy McCarn and Barbara Sue Frazier, his precious daughters Linda Allen and Larquetta Reddell, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and other family members.

LD lived a life of service, quiet determination, dedication, kindness and devotion to his family, his friends and to God.  When LD was 19 years old, he married the love of his life, Mary (Green) Anderson.  Together they built a life of love, laughter and steadfast commitment. 

LD and Mary started a family right away.  They adored their children.  They moved several times.  Everywhere they went, LD worked his hardest to provide for his family.  Eventually, they moved to Santa Rosa, CA.  LD worked for and with his brother Ray in construction.  Eventually they moved to Redwood Valley, CA, where they settled down.  LD started his own business as a pipe line contractor.  He built homes and rental houses.  Years ago, Mary chronicled their story and wrote the following, “ L.D. has been a good father and a good husband and a very good provider for his family.  He gives God the glory for all that has happened.”

LD loved to stay busy.  You could always find him in his white t-shirt and blue jeans, tinkering with something.  Sometimes he would be in his shop.  To most people, it would appear a jumbled mess, but not to LD.  He had an uncanny ability to know exactly where everything was located in his domain.  Sometimes you would find him under a backhoe, working on it.  In the summer, you could find him making sure the pool was ready for the grandkids to come over and bring their friends. 

LD was someone who led a life of calm dignity and integrity.  He was kind, generous and loved to help others.  He was a quiet achiever.  He took his responsibilities to his family and his church seriously.  LD was a deacon and elder of the Assembly of God Church for many years.  He would rarely miss a meeting.  Even after a long day of work, he would hurry home, clean himself up and drive into town to make the meeting.  If a project was proposed to where he could help in a tangible way, he would be one of the first to volunteer his services (and those of his construction crew) to help build the Church annex or whatever they might need. 

LD would not give unsolicited advice.  If he became aware of a problem where he thought he could help, he could approach the topic in a sensitive way and then be willing to help with a solution.  He was thoughtful and respectful of others.

Even though LD specialized in underground work, he was quick to learn other trades as well.  During the winter months, when underground utility work was slow, he came up with ideas how to keep his crew employed.  He started purchasing plots of land and would develop them.  After the land was developed, he sold some, but also kept several as a source of rental income. 

Even though he dropped out of school around 5^th grade, he was able to learn trades and life skills and became extremely accomplished.  LD had the ability to watch someone work and figure out how to do it himself.  He could read and decipher contracts and found ways to make projects profitable.  LD worked for himself, residential customers, city/municipal governments and more.  He even obtained special certifications that allowed him to meet the stringent requirements necessary to drill under highways.  LD was a gifted, talented man.

While most of us remember LD as a soft-spoken, sincere, hard-working, tirelessly devoted family man, he had a few other sides to him, as well.  His daughter Linda remembers family picnics at the lake, where they would enjoy water skiing from the boat.  She also remembers playing in the bucket of the backhoe when her Dad would lift her and the other kids high in the air. 

LD liked gospel music, John Wayne, Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.  The grandkids loved that he liked to keep a stash of goodies nearby … and that he would freely offer to share his snacks of twinkies, nuts, Little Debbie’s cakes, popcorn and Dr. Thunder.  He would purchase bananas, just so they would go “bad” and have his daughter Linda bake banana bread for him. 

LD liked to go out to eat at the Broiler and the House of Garner.  He also loved Kentucky Fried Chicken.  He taught his grandchildren a few recipes too:  how mixing peanut butter and Karo syrup tastes good on white bread, and putting butter on Saltine crackers tastes great! He was generous and always wanted to take care of those around him.   He didn’t make a big deal out of his generosity and he didn’t expect anything in return. 

For years, LD owned a Tennesse Walker horse that he adored.  He took his family on vacations to Hawaii.  He loved to play dominoes and cards.  He enjoyed helping people.  Most of all, he loved making his wife Mary happy.  He cherished her.  He would spend hours watching her and listening to her play the organ, sing, or play the accordion.  When their children were old enough to be left home, he loved to take Mary to San Francisco on “date nights.”  He bought her a fur coat and loved to watch her sparkle as they enjoyed dinner, walking along the wharf and having a nice evening away in a fancy hotel. 

Several years ago, LD and Mary purchased a plot of land in Quartzsite, AZ.  They became part of the “snowbirds” club.  Originally, they purchased the land as a place to stay while they were down there.  LD couldn’t stay still very long.  Pretty soon he was creating campsites for friends when they could come to visit.  Pretty soon, they had more “friends” than they could accommodate.  It wasn’t an RV park, it was a yearly convention of “friends.”  LD and Mary LOVED it. 

LD and Mary had a love and devotion that leaves a legacy.  As they got older, it became harder to them to communicate in a traditional way.  LD had difficulty hearing and Mary would often lose her voice.  They would communicate in their own way, with looks, winks, hand squeezes and it was beautiful.  LD and Mary lived to serve each other and the Lord.    

LD was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend.  He will truly be missed by all. 

A Memorial Service for LD Anderson will be Friday, March 31st at 11:00am at Eversole Mortuary in Ukiah. (141 Low Gap Rd)

Immediately following will be the internment at Ukiah Cemetery (940 Low Gap Rd).

Light refreshments and visiting will follow at Redwood Valley Community Church (951 School Way, Redwood Valley).