Helen P. Anderson

Helen P. Anderson, 98, passed away on October 26, 2019, in Brevard, NC. She was born on January 15, 1921, to Marion L. and Leta Thorne Anderson in Mountain Grove, MO, the fourth of five children. Growing up, she enjoyed math and music, especially playing cello. After graduating in 1943 from Southwest Missouri State College (now SMSU) with a B.S. in Education, she began teaching in Missouri. In 1948 she moved to Prince George’s County, MD, to be near her sister Ann’s family. She continued to teach upper level high school math courses there for the remainder of her 38-year career, except for two years when she taught at the Army base in Heidelberg, Germany.

She was very involved with her students, sponsoring extracurricular activities as well as giving many future engineers a solid math foundation. A principal wrote that she was “a perfect example of professionalism at its best,” who “devoted countless hours to young people.” While in Germany, she traveled with good friends to several countries, an interest she continued after retiring.

Her 1996 move to Mills River, NC, was followed in 2008 by her move to College Walk Retirement Community in Brevard, NC. Spending time with family gave her great pleasure during her long life.

Helen is survived by her sister, Ann Hudson of Hendersonville, NC; nieces and nephews Janet and Clyde Buchanan, Becky and Allan Houston, Richard Hudson and Linda Naef, Mark and Leslie Hudson, Marilyn and Jerry Corson, Sharon and Michael Grimm; 15 grand-nieces and -nephews; and 11 great-grand-nieces and -nephews.

The family is grateful for the kind care given Helen by the staff at The Inn at College Walk and by Four Seasons Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at College Walk on Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate to a charity of their choice.