Richard R. Anderson passed away July 30, 2026. He was born on September 4, 1935 to Carl B. and Mildred Anderson of Lindsborg, Kansas. He attended schools in Lindsborg and graduated from Bethany College in 1957. Following graduation, he successfully auditioned for a position as oboist in the President’s Own United States Marine Band, where he served from 1957 – 1961.
On August 9, 1958, he married Marylen Nelson of Assaria, Kansas. Following his service in the Marine Band, Richard entered dental school at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He graduated number one in his class in 1965 and served an internship at the VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, followed by a residency in prosthodontics at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, Texas, and a residency in maxillofacial prosthodontics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Richard and Marylen had four children: Eric (Bonnie), Eva Dwight (Paul), Paul (Samantha), and Molly (Richard). They have four grandchildren: Carly Anderson (Conor), Jeremiah Dwight (Hannah), Nathan Dwight, and Troy Anderson; and one great-granddaughter, Riley June Dwight.
Richard was American Board certified in Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics. He served as staff prosthodontist at the VA Medical Centers in Houston, TX; St. Louis, MO; and Leavenworth, KS. He was chief of Dental Services, first at the St. Louis VA and then at Leavenworth. During his dental career, he also held Associate Professor positions at the dental schools of the University of Texas, Houston; Washington University in St. Louis; Southern Illinois University at Alton; and finally, UMKC, where he was on the faculty for 26 years.
As much as Richard dedicated himself to excelling in his dental profession, music was his passion. His children went to sleep to the sounds of his oboe as he practiced for a concert, or just played for the pure joy of it.
In addition to playing in the President’s Own Marine Band, he was principal oboe in the Houston Civic Orchestra, the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, and for 30 years in the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. He contributed to worship services at Faith Lutheran Church in Prairie Village, KS, and his skills were always in high demand for other gigs around Kansas City, especially for Christmas and Easter celebrations. After moving to Salina, Kansas he played oboe and English horn in the Salina Symphony and the Bethany Oratorio Society.
Richard loved gardening – especially roses. He tended his roses with the same commitment to excellence with which he approached everything. He was highly skilled mechanically and there was nothing he couldn’t fix! He loved to learn, so family vacations and trips with Marylen supervising junior and senior high students on trips throughout Europe, were filled with museums and tours of historical locations. He was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction.
Richard’s wife, his children and grandchildren, his friends—all count themselves blessed to have been on his life journey. We remember him as a perfectionist who was willing to devote the time and energy to achieve excellence. As a man who was able to grow and develop into someone who could express deep love and appreciation for all of us who meant so much to him. As a learner, a thinker, a problem solver. A father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather. Someone who made a difference to so many…and, especially, to us.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be on Saturday, August 29, 11:00 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas, then lunch in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be sent in memory of Richard Anderson to the Salina A.M. Chapter of Ambucs, PO Box 1952, Salina, Kansas 67401 (or through the AMBUCS, Salina A.M. Chapter Fund at the Salina Community Foundation); or, to the Bethany College Music Department, 335 E. Swensson St., Lindsborg, Kansas 67456 (or www.bethanylb.edu/give).