Captain Joe Shirley Anderson lived a large portion of his life in the air. As American Airlines’ oldest living captain in the U.S. at the time of his death, Anderson logged 28,000 hours on domestic and overseas flights.
Anderson’s 32-year career in commercial flight sprang from service in the military, beginning in South Carolina where he was one of the state’s first to become an Army Air Corps Pilot. His military vocation included tours of duty in reconnaissance and fighter squadrons in Alabama and Texas.
Anderson died suddenly from pneumonia at the age of 98 on April 12 at Scripps Green Hospital. He remained active and healthy until the time of his death.
Anderson began to fly commercially in 1936 as an assistant chief pilot in the Chicago and Tulsa divisions, where he flew various types of DC, Convair, Lockheed and Boeing aircrafts.
In 1942, the Air Corps and Navy Flying Schools recruited Anderson to help lead a training school for military graduates. In 1967, he was assigned to the Military Air Command, where he embarked on operations into Southeast Asia via Anchorage and Tokyo, flying a total of 441 hours. In 1967, he completed his assignment, and in 1968 he finally hung up his captain’s hat and retired from American Airlines.
Female passengers might remember Anderson from the gardenias he grew and formed into corsages for ladies on his flights.
Torn between La Jolla, San Francisco and Hawaii, Anderson decided to retire to La Jolla for its temperate climate. He spent his free time surrounded by former colleagues; he was active with the Vanguard and Gray Eagles, organizations tied to American Airlines. He also continued to travel around the globe.
He ran frequently at Mission Bay with a friend, drank coffee with pilot friends on Girard Avenue and enjoyed concerts at the Çove with his wife. He also savored the view of Mission Bay from his Mount Soledad home.
Anderson was born in Honea Path, South Carolina on Jan. 25, 1908, where he attended public schools and later graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., in 1929.
Anderson survived by his wife, Charlotte Perry Anderson; two daughters, Sally Geyer and Marcia Anderson; his brother, Lt. Col. George Anderson; two sisters, Caroline Scott and Sally Foster; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his first wife, Harriet Simmons Anderson.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 28, at Mary Star of the Sea, 7669 Girard Ave.