George Charles Anderson, founder of Anderson Die & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Oregon
A memorial service will be held later this month for George Anderson, founder of Anderson Die & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Oregon. He passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of July 1 at his home in southwest Portland. He was 98 years old.
George was a key driver behind the Oregon nursery industry’s movement from growing plants in coffee cans and food containers to using resuable plastic containers. Anderson Die was one of the first companies in the Northwest to offer plastic pots for propagation and growing. The ready availability of these containers helped propel the Oregon nursery industry’s strong growth over the past six decades plus.
George was born June 26, 1921 at the Camp Mead army base in Maryland to Charles and Ida Mae Anderson. After Charles retired from the U.S. Army, the family moved to Corvallis, Oregon, where George attended Oregon State University for more than three years. During World War II, he then went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Burbank, California, on projects such as the P-38 fighter aircraft. He spent six years at the company and served as a union representative.
After the war ended, George and his first wife, Elaine, moved from California back to Oregon, where they settled in Hillsboro. In 1954, George founded Anderson Die & Manufacturing Co. with a small plant on Macadam Avenue in Portland. The company later expanded to a larger facility just off of McLoughlin Boulevard, near the Sellwood district of Portland.
George was dedicated to his customers and remained active in his business into his early 90s. Even after turning the reins of the company over to his son, Richard, he was still frequently seen in the office.
George was a member of the Theosophical Society. As a donor, he helped fund the Oregon Cambodian Buddhist Society in Stafford. He enjoyed bowling, walking and golfing at Eastmoreland Golf Course. His most cherished travel memory was a trip to Easter Island in 2013.
George was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Anderson, in 2008. He is survived by sons Richard and Larry, as well as seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
The details of his memorial service will be announced at a later date. The service will be held at Holman Funeral Home, 2610 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland. For more information, log on to www.holmansfuneralservice.com.
