Wishing Richard Anderson a happy retirement

By Joan Janzen

Management and staff of Kerrobert Paint & Body invited visitors to wish Richard Anderson and his wife Vicki a happy retirement on Thursday afternoon, November 16th. A steady stream of people came to say hello (or goodbye) and enjoy refreshments, treats and some good company with friends.

Lorin Halter, the new manager, was also present to greet his patrons, but it was really Richard who everyone came to see. Some came bearing cards and the occasional gift, including two lottery tickets, which he shared with Vicki. “They might make me real happy,” he chuckled.

Lorin Halter, new manager of Kerrobert Paint & Body, invited visitors to wish Richard Anderson a happy retirement after 49 years of serving customers in Kerrobert and surrounding area. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Richard chatted with his guests while sitting around the company coffee table. “I started working here after school when I was 15,” he reminisced. It all began when his dad purchased a vehicle that needed to be painted. The then-owner of Kerrobert Paint & Body offered to paint the car for $35.00 if it was sanded. So Richard’s dad recruited him to help sand the vehicle, and now you know the rest of the story.

Richard took a couple of people on a tour of the building, where he had spent 49 happy years. He showed them a spacious office with natural light beaming down from skylights. Now that Lorin took over the office, all of Richard’s Ducks Unlimited decor had been replaced with Edmonton Oilers paraphernalia.

“I loved it here. I always enjoyed coming to work,” Richard said. “This was my heart and soul. I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else.”

During his last year at the office, Lorin had taken over as manager, and Richard began coming in later in the mornings. “The auto body business is good; there’s always something to do,” he said.

Now that he’s officially retired, he no longer has to rush off to work and enjoys his leisurely mornings. However, Vicki said he’s not home that much because he loves to be out and about, talking to people as he had been doing for so many years.

The newly retired couple will be taking care of grandkids for a few weeks and plan to head south later in January and February. They also have a cruise booked mid-year in 2024.

Although he doesn’t have any immediate plans, it wouldn’t be surprising if the newly retired Richard becomes semi-retired in the future. “I’ve dealt with the public all my life,” he said. And it’s obvious he enjoyed every minute of it.