Gainesville, FL - Stella R. Schwall Anderson, 88, of Savannah, passed on April 15, 2014, peacefully at home with family, from Alzheimer's.
She was born on March 23, 1926 in Gainesville, FL to William B. & Sadie C. Lake Schwall Sandersville, GA, the last of 11 siblings, all deceased. She graduated from Gainesville High School, 1944, but was intelligent beyond education. She was married in 1950 to the late Reginald Adair Anderson who died in 1996. They lived in Jacksonville, Atlanta, & Winter Haven. Stella moved back to Gainesville in 1997, then in 2010 to Savannah with her son & his life partner.
Stella is survived by her first son, Reg, his wife Bitsy Anderson & Kylie DeBoy of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Rick & Jaren Wells, sons Rylan & Rogan of Tega Cay, SC. Laurie Wells & daughter Jenna Wolfe of Charlotte, NC; Stella's second son, David Anderson, Gainesville, FL., and her third son, Wayne Anderson and his life partner Rick Little of Savannah, GA.
She worked at Wilson's Dept Store, Gainesville and kept the books for Reginald's Atlanta law firm. At their store, Country Heritage Traditions, Lakeland, she was a buyer/bookkeeper/ decorator.
She was an accomplished painter in the realistic/impressionist styles, with colorful nature subjects. She painted from her extensive travels: from Istanbul to the South Pacific. She loved flowers, nature, golf, and entertaining, but, her greatest love was her family.
Stella's other great love was singing. She was a charter member & soprano at Sandy Springs Church of Christ. She sang with the Sweet Adelines, Winter Haven; Sweet Notes, Gainesville; Golden Age Windsor Forest, Savannah; and volunteered at the UF Performing Arts Center. Her beautiful loving smile, friendly nature, and incredible spirit were gifts for everyone to enjoy.
A Memorial Service for Gainesville native and artist Stella R. Schwall Anderson will be held on Monday, April 28, 2014, at 12:00 Noon at the Baughman Center on Lake Alice, 982 Museum Road, The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611. The family invites you to join them in this celebration of Stella's life and enjoy a collection of her paintings which will be displayed at the memorial service.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com