Robert Anderson, Redford Twp.

Ford designer was passionate traveler

Avid sportsman made many camper trips to ski and play softball, hockey and tennis

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Redford Township -- Relatives describe Robert Anderson as a loving family man who had a passion for skiing and traveling the country.

"He was good-hearted," said his wife, Catherine Anderson, 82. "And naturally, he loved his children and his wife."

Mr. Anderson of Redford Township died of an apparent heart attack Wednesday November 11, 2009, at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills. He was 82.

Born in Detroit in 1926, Mr. Anderson attended the Henry Ford Trade School in Dearborn. He later worked for a clothing shop in Detroit before landing a job at Ford Motor Co. where he spent 34 years working on future vehicle models in the company's design center.

Relatives said Mr. Anderson was drafted into the Army near the end of World War II and trained as a paratrooper, but he was never sent overseas.

After the war ended, he met his wife Catherine.

The two wed in 1948, resided in Detroit and had five children. They later moved to Redford Township.

Mr. Anderson was an avid sportsman who enjoyed skiing, bowling, hockey, softball and tennis. He also traveled and camped across the country at destinations in Florida and Colorado, and once embarked on a three-month road trip to Alaska.

"He loved to travel. Even when we were kids, we'd pull the trailer and camper out," said son, Jim Anderson, 57, of Colorado.

"It was something. He was always traveling and the trips got bigger and longer after he retired."

Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife of 61 years Catherine; four sons, Robert (Susan), James, Donald and Thomas (Amy); a daughter, Diane (Michael) Korzeniewski; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two sisters, Helen Engel and Shirley (Dick) Bailey; and brothers Roger Anderson and the late Ron Anderson.

A funeral mass is set for 10 a.m. today at St. Valentine Church, 14841 Beech Daly, Redford. Burial will take place Monday at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery. Brownstown Township.

Memorial donations may be sent to St. Valentine Church.

cferretti@detnews.com (586) 468-0343