He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Percy William and Olga Thompson Anderson. He was married on November 30, 1947 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Leah Harris who survives at the home. He was employed in industrial and sales management in Chicago and Danville, Illinois for thirty years before moving to Jefferson City in 1977. He owned and managed Bullock Builders in Jefferson City before retiring in 1987. He served as sales manager for the John Deere dealership in Jefferson City from 1987 to 1997. Other survivors include a son, Robert W. Anderson, Jr., Linn Creek; two daughters, Patricia Ann Haag and Deborah Lynn Anderson, both of Tebbetts; a granddaughter, Michele Leah Haag, Tebbetts; and a sister, Joan Sessions, Dennison, Iowa. He was a member of Community of Christ Church, Jefferson City; Providence Lodge No. 711, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Chicago; and Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Danville, Danville, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He was graduated from Council Bluffs High School and attended LaSalle University in Chicago.