Donald Anderson

On Wednesday, August 7, 2019, Don Anderson of Gaithersburg MD died peacefully at age 97. Born in Spokane, Washington, on May 17, 1922 to the late Carl and Cyrilla Anderson, beloved husband of Mae Elizabeth Anderson (deceased) of Arlington, Virginia. Mae and Don met when he was six years old. She was carrying a sack of eggs. He chased her down and broke the eggs. They married 16 years later.
Don attended Washington State University and graduated after WWII. He served in the U.S. Navy, mostly in Guam, where he helped develop the Sea Wall for Apra Harbor. After the war, Don was employed as a city engineer at Pullman, Washington. Following two years there he joined the Bureau of Reclamation in Coulee Dam, Washington. He transferred to Washington, D.C., to the position of Chief of the Program Division for the Columbia Basin Project. Following that he held other positions, including Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, from which he retired in 1980. He received awards for meritorious service and distinguished service.
During all these years, Don was heavily involved in church work. He was an usher, money counter, and adult team teacher. He was administrative board chair on two separate occasions and oversaw the sale of Christ United Methodist Church building and it‘s merger with Crossman United Methodist Church in Falls Church. As avid volunteer, he drove for Meals on Wheels for 25 years and the FISH Program. Don built numerous model ships, several of which are on display at various locations.
He is survived by his sons, Gregory Anderson (Marcia), Thomas Anderson (Chris) and William Anderson (Kay); grandfather to Philip Anderson, Rick Anderson, James Anderson, Kari Anderson and Jenna Anderson. Great grandfather to Griffon Anderson, Isabella Anderson, and Mae Anderson. A memorial service will be held at the Park View Chapel, Asbury Methodist Village on Tuesday Aug. 13 at 2:00 pm.