Posted on 04/30/2018
Fr. Alister C. Anderson, Chaplain (Colonel) U.S. Army (Ret.) departed this life on April 22, 2018 of heart failure. He held many positions in military posts and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He is survived by his beloved wife Ann Stuart Anderson of 34 years.
He was the son of the late Rear Admiral Anton Bennett and Ella Miriam (Thompson) Anderson.
Father Anderson served as a military chaplain and civilian parish priest in the U.S. and abroad for 62 years. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy during WWII, he witnessed many historical moments during his service as a Communication Officer and navigator aboard the USS Samuel Moore. From the deck of the Samuel Moore, he observed the surrender of the Japanese Empire taking place on the U.S.S. Missouri.
As an active-duty Army chaplain for 21 years, Father Anderson witnessed the Cold War as a pastor to troops of the 4th Armored Division guarding the border between West Germany and Communist Czechoslovakia. During the Vietnam War, he saw action as a Brigade Chaplain of the 25th Infantry Division during the TET offensive, and was awarded two Bronze Star medals for "Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces." He was also awarded the military's Legion of Merit for "exceptionally meritorious service in the performance of outstanding duty in positions of great responsibility," as well as a civilian service citation from the College of Chaplains of the American Hospital Association. In 1990, Father Anderson, having left the Protestant Episcopal Church, became a priest in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, where he remained contently for the rest of his days.
Father Anderson is survived by his children Hugh Anderson and wife Dale and Nina Haramis and husband Mike; step-daughter Diane Stuart; grandchildren Frances Jiannalone, Joel Jiannalone, Christina Wood and husband Matt, Travis Haramis, Max Wappel and Sam Wappel; brother-in-law Robert Stuart and wife Wynsome Hay; nephews Rev. Richard Evans and Brian Hay Stuart; and niece Nancy Culbreath and husband Greg.
Fr. Alister was preceded in death by his children Kathleen Jiannalone, Karl Anderson and Paul Sheldon.
The viewing will be from 6 to 8pm, on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the St. Peter & St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 920 W. 7th Street, Frederick, MD 21701. The liturgy will be held at 9:00AM, on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the church. The funeral service will follow at 10:30AM. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Father Anderson's memory can be made to St. Catherine Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, Hagerstown, MD 21740-4932 or Saints Mary and Martha Monastery, 65 Spinner Lane, Wagoner, SC 29164 or Washington Bach Consort, 1010 Vermont Ave., NW Ste 202, Washington D.C. 20016.
Online condolences may be shared at www.keeneybasford.com.
Published Online in The Frederick News-Post from Apr. 27 to Apr. 28, 2018
Published in Print in The Frederick News-Post on Apr. 28, 2018