Jerry Roosevelt Anderson, loving and beloved husband, father, brother, friend, and colleague, passed away in the afternoon of Sunday, February 9, 2020 in Ashburn, Virginia at the age of 86.

Jerry was born in Red Oak, Iowa on July 21, 1933 to Norma Clara Honette and Harold Martin Anderson. He was the oldest of three children, a loving brother to his two sisters C. Joan and Melinda Jane, both of whom survived him. After graduating from Albia (Iowa) High School in 1951, Jerry enrolled at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where he majored in Business Administration.

After graduation in 1955, Jerry enlisted in the United States Army. He spent his first year of service in Baltimore with the 602nd Missile Battalion and was then assigned to the personnel office of the 60th Station Hospital in Chinon, France in the Loire Valley. It was there that he met his eventual spouse of 61 years, Carolyn McNally, a fellow midwesterner from Chicago, who had joined the Special Services to teach French to American servicemen and to arrange tours of the local chateaux.

Jerry was honorably discharged from active duty to the U.S. Army Reserve in 1957 and returned to the United States. Soon after their return, Carolyn and Jerry were married on August 16, 1958 in Homewood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. They settled along the Mississippi River in Rock Island where Jerry returned to Augustana, his alma mater, as an administrator in the college’s development office.

Jerry and Carolyn had two sons, Steve (b. 1963) and Todd (b. 1968), in Rock Island; in 1971, the Anderson family of four moved to Annandale, Virginia. Jerry prized lifelong education, setting an example by earning a Master’s in Higher Education Administration while working as the Director of Planned Giving at George Washington University (GWU). Upon retiring from GWU in 2000 after 26 years of service, Jerry and Carolyn moved to Regency at Dominion Valley in Haymarket, Virginia, and later to Ashburn, Virginia.

Throughout his life, Jerry was a committed and enthusiastic volunteer with a variety of organizations and charities, including the Boy Scouts (both sons became Eagle Scouts), First Presbyterian Church of Annandale, St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, W.T. Woodson High School Band Boosters, Annandale Lions Club, Food for Others, So Others Might Eat, Meals on Wheels, Annandale Christian Community for Action, and Prince William County Hospital.

Jerry wished to be remembered as a patriot who loved his country. He served for a total of 28 years--including both active duty and Army Reserve--in the United States and in several European countries. He retired from service having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Among his many decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendations Medal. He was proud to fly the American flag at his home 24/7.

Jerry is survived by his spouse Carolyn of Ashburn, Virginia, a son Todd and his spouse Alissa and their children Madeleine and Brenna of Alexandria, Virginia, and a son Steve and his spouse Janet of Washington, DC.

Jerry wished to designate Serve Our Willing Warriors (SOWW) in Haymarket, Virginia (www.willingwarriors.org; 866-227-5853) to receive any memorial contributions in his name. SOWW’s flagship program is the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. The Retreat provides a much-needed break for our service members recovering at military hospitals in the National Capital Region.

Alternatively, Jerry and his family would welcome memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/; 800.272.3900).

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 15th, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Baker-Post Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 10001 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA. A funeral service will follow immediately at 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Following the service, a reception will be held in the funeral home Community Room.

Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com.

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