Colonel Amel Anderson was born on October 17, 1918. He passed away at home on April 29, 2017 at the age of 98. Amel graduated from Wagoner High School in Wagoner, OK. He graduated from the University of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska with a BS Degree in Political Science & Economics.

He joined the Oklahoma National Guard, 180th Infantry Regiment after high school. He was a veteran of three wars, Would War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. He received 23 awards and citations in his 33 years of service. He retired as a Colonel.

His National Guard unit was mobilized with the 45th Infantry Division and made the famed military push from Sicily into France and into Germany. He was given a field commission during this campaign. His unit was demobilized in the fall of 1945.

After WWII, Amel worked for Evans Construction Company in Pryor, Oklahoma. On April 9, 1949 he married Mary Ann Cannon.

He returned to the Army on January 27, 1951 and served on active duty until his retirement on July 31, 1974. He served in the Korean War with the 40th Infantry Division and commanded an Army field hospital in Qui Nhon, Viet Nam. In addition to his war time service, he served two tours in Washington, D.C., one tour in Germany and as advisor to General Kai-Shek in Taiwan. He served as Advisor to the U. S. Army Artillery for three years at Ft. Sill, OK and served as Deputy Director to OCHAMPUS in Denver, CO for four years. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS.

After retirement, he returned to Wagoner with his wife, Mary, and lived there for 22 years raising cattle. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Retired Officers Association, American Legion, Oklahoma History Society, and the Cattleman's Association. In 1996, he and his wife, Mary, moved to Shawnee, OK to be near his daughter, Pamela, and his two grandsons, Kyle and Logan Richardson.

Amel was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (Cannon) Anderson, father Archie Anderson, mother Dorothy Alice Anderson, two sisters Leota Blankenship and Oneta Ryser, and one brother, Alva Anderson. He was also preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Carl Blankenship and Clark Ryser as well as several nieces and nephews. Amel is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Mike Chambless of Edmond, OK, grandsons Kyle Richardson and wife Brenna of Brockport, NY and Logan Richardson of Bartlesville, OK, and two great-grandsons, Grady and Hayes Richardson.

Amel always had a smile on his face for anyone who came to visit him. In his later years, he was lovingly cared for by Debra Robinson of Seminole, OK, Cassandra Smith of Prague, OK, Shaina Johnson of Shawnee, OK, and several others. He loved God, his family and his country.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday at the Chapel at Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory in Wagoner. The Reverend Wade Robertson will officiate. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Logan Richardson, Robert Cannon, Dakota Cannon, Roger Anderson, Gary Anderson and Cody Chappel.