A View from Broadway
Don Anderson, 1937-2025
By Ken Burdick
Back some 60 years ago, before there was a Bladder Grabber, or Top Gun — even before there was an F2D championship competition, I knew Don Anderson.
I was sending a holiday greeting to Henry Nelson, and he let me know about Don passing on.
When I was 18 years old, I met Don while flying my remaining VooDoo at Carkeek Park in Seattle. He was thrilled to find another Combat flier, and went home to get his stuff. We flew several matches that day. He asked me if I knew Henry Nelson, I said I didn’t but later became friends with him.
My car was undergoing a low-budget rebuild so Don would pick me up and do all the driving. I shared a motel with him at one of the Spokane Internats. He observed me shaving and suggested that I forgo shaving cream for a bar of soap. I still use this method today.
Don was a good Combat flyer, a real motorhead and really enjoyed flying. I don’t know much else about him than those early years. He worked at Boeing as an engineer, graduated from the University of Washington and always seemed to be busy.
Henry sent me an obituary which I will post here.
— Kenny-b
Donald Marsh Anderson Obituary
Donald Marsh Anderson, 88, died on November 18, 2025, in Renton, Wash.
He was born in Los Angeles and had been a resident of King County, Wash., for 75 years, graduating from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, and the University of Washington.
He was a mechanical engineer and retired from The Boeing Company in 1992 after 33 years working primarily on space and defense projects. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army. A licensed amateur radio operator, N7EF, he was also a passionate cyclist for many years and twice completed a one-day Seattle to Spokane ultra endurance ride.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois M. Anderson; children Gregory M. (Shauna) Anderson and Lauri D. (Gerald) Whitney, both of Tri-Cities, Wash., and Gary S. Anderson of Snoqualmie, Wash. four granddaughters, and three great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by a brother, James W. Anderson. Inurnment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn. There will be no services, at his request.
Back to Bod Busters page
Back to Combat page
Flying Lines home page
This page
was updated Dec. 26, 2025