Rae Waters Anderson - Obituary

onstance Rae Waters Anderson, 88, a resident of Edgewater, MD died on Friday, September 10 at her home. Born on December 17, 1932 in Galveston, TX to the late Constance Pearl Rae and Fenelon Ashley Fly Waters, Rae led a full life. After graduating from Ball High in Galveston, she attended Texas Christian University and then Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, TX. While at TCU, one of her classmates was Dan Rather, who Rae said was “easy on the eyes”. After earning her Bachelor of Science Teaching degree, Rae started her teaching career in La Marque, TX. In 1957, while attending a Social sponsored by Pauline and Jim Waters and her best friend, Nancy Carbino, Rae met her future husband, Lt. Cmdr. Vernon F. Anderson. She was immediately smitten with the Naval Officer. They were married on June 8, 1957 and started their life together raising Vernon’s two girls, Elizabeth “Cookie” Maxwell Anderson and Jinna Maxwell Anderson, children from Vernon’s first marriage. Rae was a proud and devoted “Navy Wife” and simply loved everything about the Navy and her husband’s career. In March 1958 Vernon F. “Andy” Anderson, Jr. was born and in February 1960 James Stephen “Jim” Anderson was born making a family of four. Lt. Cmdr. Anderson gained promotions during his Navy career that encompassed the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. He was an accomplished aviator flying Jets, turbo props and helicopters. His final active tour of duty was on the carrier, the USS Princeton LPH-5 where his rank was Commander and he acted as “XO” or executive officer. After earning the rank of Captain, they moved to Annapolis, MD in 1966 where he worked at the Pentagon in the field of ASW (anti-submarine warfare) and USS (under sea surveillance). Rae’s family roots, the Waters, can be traced back to 1675 in Maryland in the St. Margaret’s area, Thomas Run in Hartford County, Cumberland, MD in Allegany County, New Orleans, LA and Galveston, TX. Once finally located in Annapolis, Rae began a 30 plus year career teaching elementary school in Anne Arundel County. If you were ever out and about with her, she would constantly run into young adults she taught as kids. There was always a big hug and a “hey Mrs. Anderson!” Rae retired from teaching on October 22, 1997. She made life-long friends in the Heritage community of Annapolis. Capt. Ned and Ann Herring, who were neighbors on South Cherry Grove for many years, are still close friends to this day. Her circle of friends was large as Rae enjoyed bird watching, book clubs, water aerobics and lunch outings with her buddies. Rae loved to travel and did so extensively with Cookie as they embarked on many cruises and adventures. She loved spending her summer months in Galveston with close family where she grew up. She was in fact an “Island Girl” at heart. She was truly a “BOI” or born on island as they say in Galveston. Rae had a very strong work ethic coupled with a very playful personality. Her parents worked hard to provide a quality life for all the kids. Her mom was a registered nurse and her father was an accomplished aviator and business man. At the time of his death, her father was the oldest living aviator in the state of Texas. He was known to train pilots using the beaches of Galveston as air strips. It’s not difficult to see where Rae’s character and personality came from with parents like hers. Rae’s “family first’ outlook on life was nothing she took lightly. She was fiercely devoted to her family and friends. She was loved by everyone she touched up to her final days. She truly set an example worth following and was resilient during some very difficult times in her life. She tirelessly drove her kids to practices and sporting events all over the state. She loved lacrosse and was an avid Towson Lacrosse fan. She was the definition of “selfless” as a Mom. In addition to her parents, Rae was preceded in death by her former husband, Capt. Vernon F. Anderson. She is survived by her sons, Vernon F. “Andy” Anderson, Jr. and James Stephen “Jim” Anderson; her step daughters, Elizabeth Maxwell Anderson and Jinna Maxwell Anderson; her siblings, Fenelon Ashley Waters and Mary Frances Waters Hand and her grandsons, Stephen Ashley Dalton and Matthew James Dalton. In lieu of flowers, the Anderson family requests that donations be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122. Friends are invited to celebrate Rae's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, September 21 from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 pm. Condolences may be made by using the tab on this page.