Jess (Andy) J. Andersen; Retired Engineer

Jess (Andy) J. Andersen, a retired Lockheed Corp. engineer, has died in Glendale. He was 72.

Andersen died Thursday of a heart attack, said his wife, Muriel Andersen.

Born on Aug. 16, 1918, in Oakland, he was raised in Pasadena. He earned an associate of arts degree from Pasadena Junior College in 1939 and was hired at Lockheed in Burbank the following year as a draftsman. During World War II, Andersen served for two years in the Navy as a radio technician, returning to Lockheed after he was discharged.

In 1960, he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from USC and became an engineer at Lockheed. Ten years later, he received a master of science degree, also from USC. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi Assn. and Pi Tau Sigma fraternities and was a registered professional engineer.

After retiring from Lockheed in 1974, he began studying his genealogy and found that he had ancestral ties to Charlemagne, king of the Franks who was crowned emperor of the Carolingian dynasty in 800, his wife said.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years; a son, Michael Andersen of Captain Cook, Hawaii; a daughter, Carol Blust of Valencia; a brother, Elwood Andersen of Applegate, Calif.; two grandsons; four step-grandchildren; and three great-step-grandchildren.

A funeral was held Tuesday, with burial at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall. Forest Lawn Mortuary in Hollywood Hills handled the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Andersen’s name to the City of Hope or the Salvation Army.