Anderson was born as Florence Ruby Bruce in Pleasley, Derbyshire, England on 11 January 1903. She was the third of five children born to Robert Bruce and Sarah Elizabeth Caudron, who were married in 1896. She had two older brothers, Robert Jr. and Reginald, a younger brother, Douglas, who died aged 10 months, and a younger sister, Nancy.

Anderson’s father worked as a railway signalman. She attended Totley All Saints Church of England Primary School in Sheffield, Yorkshire.

As a young adult, Anderson worked in domestic service. She married carpenter Alfred Anderson Jr. in 1924 in Chapeltown, Yorkshire. The couple had two children, Iris in 1924 and Ruby in 1933.

Anderson died in Ashbourne, Derbyshire on 20 March 2013 at the age of 110 years, 68 days. Her daughter Iris had died two months prior aged 88. Her younger daughter Ruby outlived her.