Alva Anderson Jr.'s Obituary
Alva Anderson, Jr., 79, a devoted son, beloved brother, proud United States Marine, software engineer, and a man of insatiable curiosity, passed away April 19, 2026 in Garland, TX. He was born on August 16, 1946, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Alva Anderson and Anna Belle Ruth (Myres) Anderson.
Growing up in Muskogee, Alva was the eldest of five children. He was later joined by three brothers, Alan, Roger, and Gary, and a sister, Amelia. From an early age he displayed the restless intelligence and determination that would define his life.
Alva answered his country's call by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, serving with distinction during the Vietnam War. His courage and sacrifice in service to his nation were recognized with the Purple Heart, a testament to the depth of his commitment and the price he was willing to pay for his fellow Marines and for the freedoms he held dear.
Following his military service, Alva built a distinguished career as a software engineer, working for several companies throughout the industry. He ultimately retired from Southwest Airlines, where he contributed his talents and expertise. True to the spirit of a lifelong learner, Alva never stopped acquiring new knowledge and was always eager to share what he had discovered with anyone who would listen. Technology was not merely his profession — it was another arena in which he pursued mastery.
Alva's passions were broad. He was an avid astronomer who spent any chance he could gazing at the heavens, and an accomplished photographer with a keen eye for beauty. He built and flew radio-controlled airplanes with the precision of an engineer and the joy of a child. He was a licensed ham radio operator, a chess player, avid reader and a dedicated fly fisherman. He was also a chaplain for The Warriors Sworn to the Cross.
Yet of all the places and pursuits that filled his life, none held his heart quite like Yellowstone National Park. Alva looked forward to every trip he could make to God’s beautiful country — to wade its rivers with a fly rod in hand, to breathe its air, and to let the world quiet down around him. Yellowstone was where Alva could truly unplug, and those who knew him understood that the man who returned from those trips was always a little more at peace.
Alva was preceded in death by his by his parents, Alva Anderson and Anna Belle Anderson, and his brother, Alan Anderson.
He is survived by his brothers Roger & wife Martha Anderson of Waxahachie; Gary Anderson of Clarksville, TX; his sister, Amelia and beloved brother-in-law Danny Chappel; as well as his cherished nieces and nephews, who he loved and now carry forward the spirit of wonder and adventure that Alva embodied throughout his remarkable life.
A life well-lived is never truly over — it lives on in those who were loved and those who loved in return.
Service information:
The visitation will be held at Restland Funeral Home on Monday, April 27, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00pm.
The Funeral Service will be held at Restland Funeral Home - Wildwood Chapel on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 2:00pm.
The Committal Service will be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Wednesday, April 29, at 10:15am. For those who wish to attend, please arrive at the cemetery no later than 10:00am.
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