David Anderson Obituary, Death – Dave was described as a good man, a wonderful neighbor, someone who changed lives, a person who made a difference in law enforcement in Brown County, and probably most often described as handsome….if you met Dave Anderson, your life was truly better off for it! Dave was able to captivate the attention of others thanks to his magnetic personality. He made time for anyone who wanted to talk to him or just be in the same room as him, and he made it clear that you were an important part of his life.
Dave was a wonderful example to look up to as a parent, grandfather, brother, son, and friend. Our hearts are broken. On Friday, November 4, 2022, David Earle Anderson passed away while he was at his home. Dave was born on the 15th of December in the year 1941 in the town of Martinsville, Indiana.
Dave is survived by his son, Chris (Kelly) Anderson of Columbus, his four granddaughters whom he adored, Sydney (Robbie) Alden, Holly, Annie, and Gwennie Anderson all of Columbus, and his great-grandsons, Henry and Anderson Alden (arriving in March). He is also survived by his sister, Joanne (Bill) Glidden. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Linda Flanary, who currently resides in Morgantown; his daughter, Kim Shope; his grandchildren, Valerie (Wayne) Auten, Joey Mascio, Hobie, and Kara Crittenden; and his great-grandsons Ashton and Shelby Sychtysz, who currently reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, he is survived by a large number of nieces and nephews as well as devoted friends.
Dave’s mother and stepfather, Muriel and Preston Grounds, as well as his older brother Jim Anderson and younger brother Jack Anderson, all passed away before him. Dave’s father, Ralph Anderson, was the first member of Dave’s family to pass away. In 1960, Dave received his diploma from Martinsville High School, where he excelled as a quarterback and was recognized for his achievements.
He did his country proud by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps and serving for a total of four years. After that, he started his career as a Trooper with the Indiana State Police, where he worked for a total of 24 years. During that time, he rose through the ranks, first becoming an undercover Officer with the Narcotics Unit and then moving on to the White Collar Crime Unit. He retired from the Indiana State Police after a long and successful career there as a Detective.
In addition to that, he spent the previous two decades diving for the Indiana State Police Dive Team. Dave served as the Sheriff of Brown County for a total of eight years. Because of his extraordinary dedication to his job, he was honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash and the Kentucky Colonel. He was a highly regarded member of the law enforcement community. Following his retirement, he started Anderson Investigations and Anderson Insurance, Inc. Dave’s return to public service in his community began in 2013 when he was appointed to the position of Brown County Commissioner.
Dave was a part of several different organizations, including the Brown County Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rites of Indianapolis, the Brown County Lions Club, the Brown County Community Theater, and People Against Substance Abuse. Dave’s favorite things to do with his friends were to talk, joke, and laugh with them, especially over meals like breakfast at Brownie’s, coffee in town, or lunch at That Sandwich Place.
Dave was an avid IU basketball fan. It was one of his favorite things to do to watch sports with Chris and yell at the television. He never ran out of jokes about Purdue, and they were always hilarious! Dave was also known to be an incredible cook. His granddaughters will long for the dried beef gravy he makes every year for Christmas, as well as the pots of beef stew he makes.
The fact that he was originally from Martinsville was something that he took great pride in. He was bursting with pride. Dave was only 6 years old when he was bereaved of his father. He never stopped gushing about his wonderful mother, his older sister, and his two brothers, all of whom he was able to lean on throughout his formative years. The United States Marine Corps and the Indiana State Police both played a significant role in shaping his identity. These events shifted his trajectory and contributed to him becoming the remarkable man that he was.
On Thursday, the family will receive guests at the Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home in Nashville, Indiana from four in the afternoon until eight in the evening. The funeral will take place at the funeral home on Friday at 1:30 p.m. to honor the deceased. Hilldale Cemetery in Martinsville, Indiana will be the location of the interment for the deceased. It is important that you are aware that there are road closures between Nashville and Morgantown, and that you will need to take alternate routes.