James Charles Anderson's Obituary
On October 1, 1949 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Ellis and Marjorie Anderson were blessed with the birth of their second son, James Charles Anderson.
Jimmy was a person who relished both work and athletic activities, especially ice skating, baseball/softball, bowling, and Shorin ryu karate. He could enjoy shoveling snow, dealt in abundance by the Massachusetts climate, as much as playing baseball. These two passions only increased in his adulthood. Throughout his entire life, he was known as a hard worker and as one of the most avid, faithful, and knowledgeable fans of the Boston Red Sox. Though he played other sports and cheered for most of the other New England teams, he loved baseball above all others.
As he grew up in Worcester, Jim was active in the ministries of Adams Square Baptist Church. He attended school at the former Adams Square Elementary and then Burncoat Jr/Sr High. Upon graduating high school in 1967, Jim worked at Machinery Electrification in Northboro before joining the United States Air Force (USAF) in May, 1969.
In the Air Force, Jim was stationed at Lackland AFB, TX and Kessler AFB, MS. He was an Avionics and Communications Tech; that was his career track. From Mississippi he was sent to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; and into active combat for one year at DaNang Airfield, RVN and Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Then he was stationed at Robins AFB, GA; RAF Alconbury, England; Langley AFB, VA; Hahn AB, Germany; and again at Langley AFB. Jim was honorably discharged from the USAF in December, 1991 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
After an active duty military career that spanned twenty one years, Jim remained at Langley for eight more years working as a civilian on the Wake Vortex Project. He then took a job in the Washington DC area as a contractor for NASA Goddard, where he was a Safety Instructor at the Training Center, intimately involved with the training of specialists. Later at Goddard, as a Safety Engineer, his job included the protecting of multi-million dollar pieces of equipment, many of which are currently orbiting the earth. His work on various projects such as GLAST, SORCE, and NOAA N’ was challenging, fulfilling, and afforded him many opportunities to travel.
After a very long battle with illnesses and their associated complications, Jim died on Wednesday, February 12, 2014. He was predeceased by his first wife Carol (Stohlberg) (1949–1999), also from Worcester, in addition to his mother (2009) and father (1973).
He is survived by his wife, who resides in Bowie, MD, Claudia Joanne Loftis Anderson, the daughter of the late Claude and Vonda Loftis. He also leaves his son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Jennifer Anderson of Yorktown, VA; daughter and son-in-law and grandson, Heather and James Robert (Robbie) Johnson and Steven, all of Chester, VA; one brother and sister-in-law, Theodore Ellis (Ted) and Lois Anderson of Tempe, AZ; a sister Jane C. Anderson of Clinton, MD; and the following cousins: Judith Anderson Cargill (Judie) from West Brookfield, MA; Richard (Andy) and Jan Anderson from Plain City, OH; and Roberta and Harold Pierce of Spencer, MA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
For those who wish to attend both the viewing and the funeral, the funeral home’s proximity to Westfield Mall offers a number of dining options that may facilitate you staying for both.
Flowers may be sent or donations made to either Faith Memorial Baptist Church on 6801 Ironbridge Road, N. Chester, VA 23234 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Center
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