Philip M. Anderson, formerly of Ludlow and Springfield, remembered as a great cook with a generous spirit

Marble Falls, Texas

Philip M. Anderson, 64, of Marble Falls, Texas, died on Oct. 26, 2013 after a battle with cancer.  He was the son of the late Robert Anderson and Margery Anderson Hearn and grew up in Ludlow and Springfield, VT.

Philip M. ‘Phil’ Anderson, 64

Mr. Anderson, “Phil” as he was known, attended Black River School in Ludlow and, in 1968, graduated from Springfield High School, where he had taken courses in cooking and fostered his interest in the culinary arts. He also took courses at Nathaniel Hawthorne College Satellite Night School Program in New Hampshire.

Mr. Anderson was a great cook in several local restaurants including the Country Girl Diner,  Ruth’s Lunch and the Grafton Inn, as well as many others throughout his life in Georgia and Texas. Mr. Anderson was also a cook and ranch manager of the John Byram Ranch in Texas.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours in Vietnam in the infantry 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Hotel Company, attaining the rank of sergeant and earning several medals. Mr. Anderson had been discharged from his first tour in 1970, but volunteered again so that his brother, Cliff, would not have to go.

After his second discharge from Vietnam in 1972, Mr. Anderson opened a catering business in Billerica, MA. and Springfield, VT. And following his marriage in 1976, Mr. Anderson invited his brother Cliff in as a partner in the business, the Springfield Lunch and the Phil ‘n’ Cliff Munchwagon.

Mr. Anderson moved in 1977 to Savannah, GA, where he opened the Ye Olde Pub restaurant.

From 1978 to 1980, he was the innkeeper at the Holiday Inn in Jekyll Island, GA, where he doubled the hotel’s food and beverage business in one year.

In 1980, he moved to Austin, Texas, where he ran several restaurants the Black Stallion, Convict Hill and his own Phil’s BBQ.

A generous spirit

He was the owner of Anderson Locksmith in Marble Falls, Texas. As a locksmith, he rarely charged the elderly, handicapped, veterans or spouses of military men in service.

Mr. Anderson was a respected member of the Masonic Lodge Blanco 215 and the Blanco Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a volunteer firefighter and served on the Blanco, Texas, City Council.

Mr. Anderson will be greatly missed by his two brothers, Jay and his wife, Rita Anderson, and Clifford Anderson; two sisters, Lynne Anderson Hildreth and her husband, Bruce, and Robin Anderson.  He is pre-deceased by sister Bonnie Miner, but leaves behind her children, Earl Miner Jr., Angelica Joy Miner, and Karen Kim Anderson Gamboa and their spouses.  He also leaves many other nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Marble Falls at 11 a.m.  on Saturday, Nov. 9.