James R. Anderson died Wednesday July 4th at his home in the presence of his family. He is survived by his sister Arlene Miller, his wife of 64 years Patricia, his ten (10) children James Jr. (wife Carrol), Paul (wife Jane), Barbara (husband Bruce), David (wife Maria), Bill (wife Susan), Greg (fiancee Phyliss), Tim (wife Kim), Jeff (wife Janet), John (wife Diane), Roger, his twenty-eight (28) grand children and seven (7) great grand children.

Born and raised by his family in Brooklyn, NY, he joined the Navy at the outbreak of WWII and serviced as an Aircraft Mechanic, finishing the war at Barbers Point in Hawaii. While in Hawaii he met his wife to be Patricia and was married to her on May 29, 1948. Going to college under the GI bill and starting a family at the same time he graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Youngstown College in 1950.

His career started in tools and die shops in Ohio and worked at GE in their jet propulsion division in the design and manufacturer of the J79 turbo jet. He then worked at Elliott Corporation participating in the design and manufacturer of steam turbines used in nuclear submarines. He then went to work with his brother in law Bill Meyer and worked with him for almost twenty years heading up a R&D and products development team in the Fire Protection Industry.

Although his accomplishment in the business world were substantial, the joy and focus of his life was his wife and family. Devoted husband and father to ten children, he loved his family as only he could. His quick wit and engaging laugh made short work of everyone he met. He loved everyone and had a way of making everyone feel special.

He loved his country and the promise it made in providing opportunity for all who would work for it. He had core values that anchored him through his life and that he passed to his children. His stories were many and we will all miss his laugh. He was funny and he was mischievous. He believed in God and saw his beauty in everything around him. Every night he prayed to God and gave thanks to him for his gifts and asked him to watch over three pilots he knew (who he was close friend) who were killed during the war.

He was a man of character, a true hero to those who knew him. We will all miss him but we know we will all see him soon enough. We know that the moment of his death when he met God, God said" Son, good and faithful servant, job well done." Each of us can only hope to be half the man he was. Thank you God for letting us be part of his life's story and hold him in your arms until we meet him again.

Family and friends may visit on Monday, July 9, 2012 from 6-9 pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 11:00 am at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Severna Park, MD. Interment will be in MD Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial Contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com