×

« Return to Search   

Jeffrey W. Anderson  1974

Cullum No. 32009-1974 | May 29, 2019 | Died in Bethesda, MD
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, VA


Jeffrey Wayne “Jeff” Anderson was born in Newton, KS on November 4, 1952. He was raised as a Baptist by faithful parents, and from an early age he had great interest in religion and his relationship with God. While still in high school he served in the Billy Graham Crusade in 1969. As a young man growing up in Kansas, and in all endeavors throughout his life, Jeff worked to be the very best that he could. While a teenager he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Jeff received a congressional appointment to West Point and entered the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of ’74 on July 1, 1970. To a man, his classmates agree that Jeff was a serious and dedicated individual with an incredible work ethic. He took his studies at West Point very seriously. He also had an intense interest in religion, serving as a Cadet Chapel Sunday School teacher and as a member of the Baptist Student Union and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jeff even successfully marketed an edition of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible to several of his “unbelieving” classmates. He worked hard throughout his time at the Academy and was the consummate Star Man, graduating 17th in the 833-strong Class of ’74 on June 5, 1974.

Jeff had intended to become a chaplain in the Army, but by the time he graduated the program implementing a direct commission into the Chaplain Corps was no longer available. Yet Duty, Honor, Country were always foremost, not only in his words but in his actions, and he moved forward with a commission in the Armor branch.

His first assignment was to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Armor in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, WA. Early commendations led to full time graduate school at the University of Washington, resulting in a Ph.D. in psychology, counter-terrorism and international relations in 1980. Further assignments in the 3rd Armored Division and 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany and at MILPERCEN marked Jeff as an officer who exceled in any task at hand. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He served as the garrison commander at Fort Monmouth, NJ, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1998 while serving as an Assistant Deputy Director of Operations at the Pentagon. Jeff’s public service did not end on retirement. He continued in various national intelligence roles and was still serving in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence at his death.

As impressive as is Jeff’s service to his country, he had another side equally commending him to any who knew him. As one of his classmates said, “Jeff is the only person I know who was an Army officer, CIA officer and a bishop of his church! In addition to being a father of an enormous family, many of the kids who were adopted. In a world of takers, Jeff was a true giver! God Bless Him!”

When he retired from the Army, Jeff attended seminary at Sewanee: The University of the South and Trinity Theological Seminary. He subsequently completed graduate training in Greek and Hebrew through Valley Forge Christian College. He was ordained a deacon and later priest in the Episcopal Missionary Church (EMC). He served as the rector of Christ Church in Warrenton, VA for 10 years. At his passing one of his parishioners said, “Bishop Jeff was the rector of my church and he is missed every day.” Another stated, “Of Jeff Anderson I need only say this: He brought me back to God. He did this for others. Nothing more needs to be said of his ministry. Let us try to do the same.”

At the National Synod of the EMC in 2017, the Most Reverend William Millsaps, the Presiding Bishop of the Church, noted Jeff’s work in the ministry as follows: “In Warrenton, VA, and that whole area the light is shining. Christ Church, Warrenton realized some years ago that addiction was a problem which cuts across all lines. They opened their doors to A.A. This is not unusual for churches, but the numbers which began to go up meant the rector and vestry had to be firm in saying that A.A. would continue to be holding meetings. Bishop Jeff Anderson has been a recognized leader in every sense of that word…our West Point Bishop.”

He was received into the Episcopal Missionary Church in 2006. He was also a minister in the Scottish Anglican Church. The Right Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Wayne Anderson was consecrated bishop for the Armed Forces on February 14, 2015, serving, training and assisting in the selection of military chaplains.

Perhaps most important in Jeff’s life was his family. Jeff married Cheryl Skipper in 1974. They were later divorced. Jeff married again to Deborah Gower at the Old Cadet Chapel on October 19, 1985. He and Debi raised 12 children (three from Jeff’s previous marriage and nine by adoption or fostering) during their 35 years together. They are the grandparents of 27. 

Jeff followed Duty, Honor, Country as his creed, and it reflected in his way of life. He was active in the federal government for more than 30 years up until his last day in this life. Jeff died on May 29, 2019 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. Internment was at Arlington National Cemetery. Of Jeff it will be said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Be Thou at Peace!” 

242205cd-b6cb-4cd9-9f2b-a94c88b2b296

Yes

No

Graduated

 

Add Your Testimonial Below

 

Make a Memorial Gift | Help Leaving Testimonial

 
Please refer to our Terms of Use regarding testimonials that you post. If you observe a posting that has a derogatory testimonial, please send an email to our webmaster, indicating the name of the graduate whose memorial page had a derogatory posting. Thank you.