Beverly Jeanne Badham Anderson

Beverly Jeanne Badham Anderson, a radiant all-round Southern California bombshell, successful musical theater light opera singer and actress, and exceptional wife and mother of five children died April 28, at home. She was 81.
Anderson was born June 23, 1931 to Virginia Evelyn Dabney Badham and Edward Dick Badham in Los Angeles, Calif. and grew up in Hancock Park. She graduated from Marlborough School in 1949, and was a TickTocker in the National Charity League, and a Coronet Debutante in 1950. A soprano with a range of more than three octaves, her singing career was successful early on as a National Association of Singing Teachers finalist, a Music Teacher Association of California finalist (singing), and Hollywood Bowl Award winner (singing). Her talent was equally matched by her beauty. She won first place in the New Mexico Military Institute Bathing Beauty competition, was Miss Television for Los Angeles County (second place), and she placed third in the Balboa Beauty contest. She studied voice under Florence Russell in Los Angeles and Charles Hedley in Hollywood, and majored in voice at the University of Hawaii and the University of Southern California. At USC, she joined the Delta Gamma sorority, was a Kappa Sigma Dreamgirl, a Phi Sigma Kappa Moonlight Girl attendant, and a USC Homecoming Princess in 1951.
It was at USC that she set her sights on a far more important prize and won that too, marrying the love of her life, Paul Norman Anderson in 1952. They moved to West Covina, Calif. where she became president and treasurer of the Covina Civic Light Opera Association. They quickly started a family and in 1962 moved to Laguna Beach, Calif. with their five children. Her singing career was equally productive. Over the next 30 years she appeared on stage in more than 2,000 performances in light operas and musicals, performing with world-renowned stars such as Margie McKay and Chris Lacona and other members of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco opera companies in “Carmen,” with Jane Powell in “My Fair Lady,” John Raitt in “Oklahoma,” Tammy Grimes in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” Howard Keel in “Camelot,” Hugh O’Brien in “Music Man,” Connie Stevens in “Wizard of Oz,” Betty Grable in “Guys and Dolls,” Ann Southern in “Mame,” Diane Keaton in “Sound Of Music,” and so many more.
She performed most often at the Carousel Theater in West Covina, Calif., the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, Calif., Melodyland in Anaheim, Calif., Hotel Riviera in Las Vegas, Nev., and with the Hawaii Civic Light Opera Company. Anderson also appeared on television in such bygone shows as “Jukebox Jury,” “Panorama Pacific,” “Greet the People,” “Dick Whittinghill Show,” “Morning Breakfast Show,” “Your Los Angeles County in Action,” and “Backstage with NTG.” In her spare time she was a regular soloist for Christian Science churches for 24 years in Corona del Mar, San Clemente and Laguna Beach. In 1971 she won the Two Thousand Women of Achievement award for her many accomplishments.
A devoted and hard-working mother who skillfully juggled her career and her passions, she could be found knitting sweaters for her family during downtime at rehearsals, sewing everything from kids’ clothes and costumes to home decor items and various things such as historical flags for her husband’s and sons’ Boy Scout troop. In her off seasons she attended her children’s sporting events and performances, and organized memorable family tent camping adventures throughout the California deserts and mountains where she prepared gourmet meals from their catch of the day. No matter where she was or what she was doing you would never catch her looking less than her glamorous best. Upon retirement from theater life, she continued as church soloist, played serious bridge with family and friends, and spent many hours working in the garden. She and her beloved husband travelled throughout the islands of the South Pacific, and took their children and grandchildren on several houseboat adventures enjoying the grandeur of Lake Powell. She took great pleasure in family activities, including being an ever-present active participant in the lives of her grandchildren who lived a block away in Three Arch Bay in Laguna Beach.
Anderson had Parkinson’s disease for 24 years, and her husband retired and cared for her along with caregivers until his passing in 2011. She is survived by their four sons; Dale, Garrick, Norman, Kent, their daughter Teri AndersonSchoepe and their spouses, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; her sisters Marilyn Martin, Patricia Tilton, and Cheryl Donohoe. Anderson was laid to rest, joining her husband, on the occasion of their 61st wedding anniversary on May 2. The Celebration of her Extraordinary Life will be held Sunday, May 19, at 10a.m. at Pacific View Memorial Park Chapel, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, Calif. Share your memories at https://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/beverlyanderson