Obituary of Rosalyn Anderson

Rosalyn B. Anderson, 86, died on Monday, November 28, 2011. She was born on September 21, 1925, the daughter of Edward Berry and Doris Beher Berry, of Rushville, IN. After the death of her parents, she was adopted by Charley C. Brown and Martha Morgan Brown, also of Rushville. Rosalyn graduated from Rushville High School in 1942. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority. She married James R. Anderson of Milroy, IN, on December 4, 1949. The couple lived in Milroy, and she worked at Rushville National Bank while starting a family. She was proud of her Hoosier roots. Rosalyn and her family moved to the Roanoke Valley in 1961. Together, they owned and operated for many years Andy's Shops at Crossroads Mall and Townside Plaza. She was also an active member of Northview United Methodist Church and a volunteer at the Jefferson Center. Rosalyn was known by many names: To customers of her family business, she was "Mrs. Andy." To the ladies in her card club of more than 40 years, she was "Roz." To her grandchildren and all of their friends, she was "Meme." And because she made each one of them feel so special to her, she most often was "My Meme." Rosalyn's family was her pride and joy. By her quiet but powerful example, she taught her children and grandchildren what it means to be a family. She knitted them together with countless stitches of fierce loyalty and unconditional love. And she never forgot to add fun. Visits to Meme's house meant raucous ping pong matches, killer competitions in games of every sort, songs ranging from Chopsticks to Send in the Clowns on the red piano, and plenty of time just to sit and talk. Rosalyn loved listening to sports on the radio, growing flowers, working puzzles, playing cards, and cooking up a storm for every family gathering. She was relentlessly sunny and warm. She was gifted at putting people at ease and could learn a person's life story in a heartbeat. Rosalyn's husband, James R. Anderson, preceded her in death in 1983. Those who survive her include daughter Mary Casper and her husband, Mike Casper, of Gainesville, GA; son Bill Anderson and his wife, Corby Cochran Anderson, of Charlotte, NC; and son Rob Anderson, of Richmond VA, as well as seven grandchildren: Matthew Casper, of New York, NY, and his wife, Stuart Baldwin; Marti Casper, of Atlanta, GA, and her fiance Kirk Adams; Carly Anderson, of Arlington, VA; Grace Anderson, of Charlotte, NC; Mark Casper, of Gainesville, GA; Ross Anderson, of Richmond, VA; and Jack Anderson, of Richmond, VA. Her family will receive friends from 1:00 - 2:00 on Thursday, December 1, at Simpson Funeral Home (540-366-0707), where a memorial service will be held that day at 2:00, with the Rev. Joe Klotz of Northview United Methodist Church officiating. In Rushville, IN, a visitation will be held on Friday, December 2, 2011, at Todd Funeral Centre (765-932-3070). Burial will follow at East Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Northview United Methodist Church, or a charity of the donor's choice.