Carl Branson Anderson, 80, lost a long and courageous battle to cancer on Nov. 20 at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital with family and friends at his side.

Carl was born on May 30, 1927 in the southern Ohio town of Waverly, to Robert and Dolly Anderson. He graduated from Linden McKinley High School, Columbus, Ohio in 1945, but not before enlisting in the United States Navy prior to graduation. His military career was short, but important: he served from 1945 to 1947 alongside other young GIs in the South Pacific on a landing craft infantry out of Saipan, contributing to the end of World War II. He later attended Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) on the GI Bill.

Carl’s 35-plus-year career in the grocery business was legendary. Following in his father’s footsteps, he first worked for the Kroger Grocery Company, a large Midwest firm. In 1954, he was employed by the giant supermarket chain, The Big Bear Company in Columbus, Ohio, where he served in many supervisory and management capacities. Carl, like his father, was an old-school grocer and immersed himself in his work, establishing deep personal friendships with his co-workers, employees and customers. He was instrumental in guiding many to fulfill their lifetime personal and professional dreams, most often by lending a listening ear or supportive shoulder.

He and his wife Ruth retired in 1989, first to Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association’s summer cottage community and later to a winter home, to lead a life of world travel, sailing, and relaxing on the beaches of the Vineyard.

Carl’s giving nature and strong work ethic led him to volunteer whenever and wherever a hand was needed. While working with Big Bear, he was awarded the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel, bestowed by the governor of Kentucky to those rare individuals who make extraordinary efforts to enrich the lives of Kentuckians and the world at large through acts of goodwill and compassion. Carl also had the distinction of being a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Ohio. When he and his wife Ruth bought a cottage in the Camp Ground, they both turned their humanitarian efforts towards helping the Camp Meeting Association community become a better place.

Carl served for many years as a member of the board of directors of the association. During his tenure, Carl served as chairman of several projects within the association, most notably head of the grounds committee. This often under-appreciated and overworked position allowed Carl to use his fine communication and negotiating skills, dancing a fine line between accomplishing a task and developing a friendship, all without alienating the neighbor. He and his wife Ruth were instrumental in helping create and establish the Tabernacle House, a rental property for the Camp Ground community renovated from an old laundry building.

Carl was also a fine addition to Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs, donating countless hours of enthusiasm and hard work to the cause. Among his many contributions to the church, Carl officially served as a member of the board of trustees.

His long hours of volunteering for whatever needed doing has been a blessing to the many lives and organizations he touched.

Carl enjoyed many leisure activities such as puttering in his garage and basement workshops or out in the yard, but none could compare to the solid pleasures of sailing Island waters and riding his 1972 BMW motorcycle along the winding side roads of life.

Even in his seventies, Carl was known to pop a wheelie or two. Ever the adventurous sailor, Carl often found great humor in the many times he found himself stranded with his sailing partner and brother in law Bob by the fickle winds and storms on the sandbars of Nantucket and Vineyard sounds. Even so, the two always viewed the next sailing trip much the same way as would the two characters in the movie Gone Fishin’ – “It’s gonna be a 10, 10-plus . . . no, borderline 11.”

Carl never met a stranger he didn’t like. He was known on the Island from stem to stern for his friendly smile, engaging conversation and ready helping hand. From the post office to Linda Jean’s to the Plane View to Bink’s Auto, Carl took the time to talk, share the concerns of the day, and just listen. Even in declining health, Carl reached out in touching and humorous fashion to family, friends and hospital staff.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ruth Immelt Anderson of Oak Bluffs; his brother, Gerald Anderson of Columbus, Ohio; his brother in law and long-time sailing buddy, the Rev. Robert Immelt, and sister in law, Betty Immelt, of Edgartown; his brother in law and sister in law Joseph and Donna Immelt, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and sister in law Rose Immelt, of Tyler, Tex.; and various nieces, nephews and relatives.

In a befitting final act of generosity and helpfulness, Carl donated his body to Harvard Medical School for the advancement of science. No public service is planned. Donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven; The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association’s Tabernacle Fund, Oak Bluffs; or Trinity United Methodist Church, Oak Bluffs.