Colonel (USAF Retired) Frederick Charles Anderson

Colonel (USAF Retired) Frederick Charles Anderson passed peacefully into Heaven on October 30, 2023.  Fred was born October 23, 1937 in Johnstown, PA, and grew up in the small coal mining town of Revloc, PA.  He was raised alongside five sisters and a brother by his hard-working coal miner father, Carl Anderson, and his fair but demanding mother, Alice Anderson.  He acquired a strong work ethic from his parents that served him well throughout his life.  He excelled academically and athletically at Ebensburg Cambria High School not far from Revloc.  He went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1959, and subsequently receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.  He married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Jane Jones, and they embarked on their military journey.  Through nine duty stations, including an unaccompanied tour in Thailand during the Vietnam War and one later as base commander at Robins AFB, he held command positions at every rank but one.  Fred completed a distinguished 23-year Air Force career in 1982 retiring at the rank of Colonel.  Post military, he worked briefly in the financial and insurance fields and then as a math instructor at Middle Georgia Technical College until his second retirement in 1999.

Fred firmly believed that any successes he enjoyed in life were owed in great measure to his supportive family.  He said he wanted to be remembered as someone who was always concerned about the welfare of the troops, and later of his students. 

Fred is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Becky.  He is survived by his sister, Carol Bennett; four children: Fred II (Denise), Jeff (Lynn), Leslie Mathews, and Lara Townsend (Walt); seven grandchildren: Jennifer, Rebecca, Aubrey, Samantha, Matthew, Aaron and Thomas; and six great grandchildren: Kylie, Jacob, Layla Grace, Madilyn, Knox, and Anderson.

Colonel Anderson leaves behind a legacy of service, commitment, courage, humor and love.  He was not only a dedicated husband and father but also a cherished Papa. He lived a very full and happy life, and left peacefully on his terms surrounded by his children.  To paraphrase the lilting words of Ol’ Blue Eyes: He lived a life that was full; he travelled each and every highway; and more, much more than this, he did it his way.

A memorial gathering will take place on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at McCullough Funeral Home.  A memorial service celebrating Fred’s life will immediately follow at 2:00 PM in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with Monsignor Fred Nijem officiating.  After the service, the family will host a gathering at the McCullough Farmhouse behind McCullough Funeral Home. Inurnment for Fred and Becky Anderson will take place at the Sacred Heart columbarium next Spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in memory of Fred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Warner Robins GA), or to United Service Organizations (USO).

For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.