DR. ANITA ANDERSON

Dr. Anita LaJune Anderson (Haffner), our beloved wife, Mom, sister, and friend passed away on Wednesday December 28, 2022, at the Age of 65.

Anita (June) was born to Frankie and Wilson “Dub” Anderson in Ft Chaffee, Arkansas on June 14, 1957. Anita earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antoni, a Master of Psychology degree from St Mary’s University, San Antonio, a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a pre-doctoral internship at the Yale School of Medicine. Anita was the proud mother of one son, Edwin Haffner who was the center of her life.

On August 21, 1984, Anita married Ernest Haffner (CSM Ret.) in San Antonio, TX. They were married for 38 years until the time of her death. Anita and Ernest are blessed with son Edwin who is the pride and joy of their lives.

Anita enjoyed her life as a very caring and loving mother, partnered with her husband, aunt to numerous nieces and nephews, and a clinical psychology professor at the University of the Incarnate Ward (UIW), San Antonio where she served as a department chairperson in the early 2000. As a child of Military parents, Anita lived in numerous States including Arkansas, Georgia, California, Washington, Kansas, and Germany. The constant moving her military parents endured, while challenging, provided her and her siblings a unique perspective on life and exposure to different cultures.

Look up words like courage, resilience, care and compassion in the dictionary and you will see Anita’s picture. She had the uncanny gift of making people feel very much at ease around her. Family, friends and colleagues sought her advice and you always knew you could confide in her! She loved teaching and mentoring young students, especially women. Her Women-in-Psychology course at UIW, considered so popular that many female students would invite their male partners to sit in with them.

Sharing knowledge and the wisdom of life’s lesson to young minds always brought her great joy. Anita tended to the sense of reasoning in most arguments or debates between family and friends. She would often offer to talk to family members and friends individual or collectively while deliberating over disputes or disagreements.

Before health limited her physical mobility, Anita loved to travel. She and her loving family would often take long road trips to unique destinations such as Mount Rushmore South Dakota, the Grand Canyon Arizona, Disney World Florida, or numerous family reunion trips to Alexander Louisiana. She often organized short road trip with the family, either to the Texas coast or Hill County when times were limited.

Anita also enjoyed spending time with young children or catching up with her nieces and nephews as they progress through life…always very proud of all their many accomplishments!

Anita is preceded in death by her parents Frankie and Wilson Anderson, her grandparents, Castel Hall Brown and Mingo Brown, her sister-in-law Rose Haffner and Cousin Bernice Smith.

She is survived by her Husband Ernest Haffner, son Edwin Haffner, brother Dr. Audwin Anderson, sister Mrs. Andrea Shanks and brother-in-law Bruce Shanks Sr (SFC Ret); brother-in-laws Arnold Haffner and Obiora Haffner; Sister-in-laws Stella Morah and Marie Johnson (David Johnson); her nephews Bruce Shanks Jr (Shaquallah); Jeffery Shanks (SSG Ret) (Constance); Arnold Haffner Jr. (Julie); Erik Haffner and Dustin Haffner; great nieces and nephews Bruce Shanks III; Jaylen Shanks; Morgan Shanks and Caleigh Shanks, a loving aunt and uncle and a host of loving cousins.

The Haffner and Anderson family would like to express our sincere gratitude for all the condolences and expression of love and affection we have received from family and friends. The viewing and service to celebrate the life of our loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday January 24, 2023, at the Lewis Funeral Home 811 South W.W. White Road, San Antonio TX. The final home-going service will follow immediately at the Ft Sam National Cemetery that afternoon.