Letha (Buchanan) Anderson

Ancestors

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Biography

Letha Anderson was born Valerie Kay Buchanan in 1962. She was born in Spokane Washington to parents Clifford Buchanan of Washington State and Glenda Anderson of North Dakota. ^[1]

At the age of five her family moved from Spokane to Monroe Washington where her parents bought 5 acres and proceeded to build a house on the property. In 1972, her parents split up and soon after divorced. ^[2]

In 1976, Valerie moved from Monroe Washington to Gypsum Colorado to live with her father and his second wife. In the spring of 1977 she moved with her father and his wife to Rangely Colorado. During the summer of 1977 she worked for the US Youth Conservation Corps in Rocky Mountain National Park. At the end of August, 1977, Valerie took the money she had earned over the summer and left home. In September 1977 she met Gary Winters who was visiting his family in Bangor Maine while on leave from the US Marine Corps. ^[2]

In September 1977 Valerie moved to North Carolina where Gary Winters served as a Harrier Jet mechanic at the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station. Valerie and Gary were married in Horry County, South Carolina, in January 1978 and they had a son in August 1980. ^[3][4]

In October 1980 Valerie Winters left North Carolina and went to visit her mother in Redmond, Washington. Gary was scheduled to be discharged from the Marine Corps and they planned to reunite in several months after Gary secured a place for them to live in Bangor Maine near his family. Instead of reuniting with Gary Winters, Valerie stayed in Washington and raised her son. ^[2]

In the 1980’s and 1990’s Valerie lived in South Seattle, West Seattle, and Des Moines, Washington. From 1985 – 2001 she worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Seattle, Washington. In 2002 she moved to Ocean Park, Washington with her partner. She had no other children, never remarried, and never divorced Gary Winters who died in 2014. ^[5]

In March 2010 Valerie Kay Winters legally changed her name to Letha Louise Anderson. Leatha Anderson was her maternal grandmother's married name. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Certification of Birth Registration City of Spokane Health Department, Spokane, WA, No. 906, date of filing March 15, 1962: Child -Valerie Kay Buchanan born March 5, 1962, Father-Clifford Frank Buchanan Age 23, Birthplace Washington. Maiden name of Mother-(Glenda Lea Anderson, Age 19, Birthplace-North Dakota.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} First-hand information. Entered by Letha Anderson (formally Valerie Buchanan) at registration.
3. ↑ Marriage Certificate of Gary Winters & Valerie Buchanan, Jan 20, 1978 issued by Horry County, South Carolina
4. ↑ State of North Carolina Certificate of Live Birth. Certificate Number 0049306, Date Record Filed September 4, 1980, Registrant-Ashley Wayne Winters, Birthdate-August 28, 1980, Sex-male, Birthplace: Craven County, Mother’s Maiden Name: Valerie Kay Buchanan, Birthplace-Washington, Age 18. Father’s Name: Gary Lee Winters, Birthplace Maryland, Age 22.
5. ↑ Obituary Published in Bangor Daily News, Maine on Feb. 22, 2014
6. ↑ Name Change from Valerie Kay Winters to Letha Louise Anderson on March 23, 2010 in South Pacific District Court, Washington, Case No 2010-07 NC