The Rev. Dr. John W. Anderson, 83, left to be with the Lord on July 5, 2016, at Green Hills Retirement Community, West Liberty, surrounded by family and a couple from India. Left to cherish memories of his life are his wife, the former Doris Dickson; daughters, Karen (Mike) and Mary Beth (Ken); five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
On June 25, 2016, a pre-planned Celebration of Life service was held at the Bellefontaine Church of the Nazarene for family members and friends from seven different states. Later, two couples of Asian India descent visited John at the care center. He knew they were coming and as others witnessed, the two India pastors knelt at his bedside giving updates on what God is doing among nationals in Central, North and East India. They also sang hymns in the Marathi language that John learned as a boy.
As a son of missionary parents, John arrived in a Central India village at age three. He attended a church kindergarten at age five. On his own hand-held blackboard (with handles) he learned to write the Marathi language’s 45 alphabetical letters. The next two years, his schooling was a British school, where he became the youngest member of a boys choir. He’d been taught to read musical notes at four by his father.
His next school was in a healthier climate (no mosquitos) at a Presbyterian school in North India’s Himalayan foothills. Next came college in the U.S.A. He and wife Doris were involved in an Indiana church, pastoring until moving to Chicago for added schooling, qualifying John to teach in public schools. Married in 1954, the same year he went into basic training in the U.S. Army at Ft. Dix, N.J., followed by a transfer to New York’s Governor’s Island, then an honorable discharge in 1956. Completing his education goals was next on his planned agenda. The couple went to India in 1966. John’s parents were there. Two years later they retired. The younger Andersons retired in 1988. After retirement, John spent five years working with Asian India and Arab pastors in Chicago before moving on to work as an associate pastor of a church in Warren, Pa., for almost 10 years.
At the aforementioned June 25 service, John was present, up front playing his favorite hymns on his bass cello with daughter Karen at the piano, and daughter Mary Beth and cousin Jan Dickson on their flutes for the congregational singing. Son-in-law, the Rev. Ken Neighoff brought a brief message after family members shared stories about John, including humorous ones. The service ended with church pianist Judy McAdams playing God Be With You ’Til We Meet Again, as all present sang the words.
The family wishes to thank Senior Independence (Hospice) and Visiting Angels for escorting John to and from the Celebration of Life service. Their thanks also go to Jen Wren, R.N. and all medical professionals and aides at Green Hills. Words cannot convey the top notch nature of the level of care John received during his months as a resident there.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wycliffe Associates (Bible Translators), P. O. Box 620368, Orlando, FL 32862-9913; or The Gideons International, www.gideons.org/sendtheword.