Roll Call Tribute

Gerald Anderson
July 8, 1951 - December 23, 2022

Gerald Anderson, 71, passed away at his home in San Antonio, TX on Thursday, December 23, 2022. Jerry, as he was nicknamed by his mom, was born July 8, 1951, in Shreveport, LA, to Edward and Florene Anderson. Like his parents, he did not have a middle name.

Jerry graduated in 1969 from Kingsbury High School in Memphis, TN where he served as vice president of Industrial Education as well as Major in the Air Force ROTC his senior year.

Jerry earned a BS in Building Construction from Texas A&M University, Class of 1973. He was a distinguished member of the Corps of Cadets, participating in the Ross Volunteers and serving as commanding officer of Squadron 10 - Titan X his senior year. Jerry was elected to the Tau Sigma Delta honor society 1971-1972 from the College of Architecture. He received a certificate of scholastic achievement in recognition of earning Distinguished Student in the Fall and semesters of 1971, 1972 and 1973. Jerry graduated from Reserve Officers Training Corps as a distinguished student demonstrating outstanding ability, initiative, and other leadership qualities desired by the United States Air Force officers in 1973. He was a proud member of the Honor Guard of Texas from 1972 - present.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Jerry was commissioned into the Air Force as a second lieutenant in 1973. From 1974-1978, he served as USAF Engineering Officer - Missile Engineer and “RED-HORSE” Project Engineer at Little Rock Air Force Base. In 1974, he successfully completed TITAN II Weapon System Course USAF School of Applied Science Aerospace Sciences and successfully completed Ballistic Missile Staff Course in 1974. Jerry was certified in “EIT” Engineer in Training in 1974 by the University of Arkansas.

After a promotion to first lieutenant, Jerry received the Air Force Institute of Technology Air University USAF Civil Engineering school certificate of completion, BASE Civil Engineering Course, and Completion in SAC Nuclear Safety in 1974. He successfully completed USAF Institute of Technology Civil Engineering school and the Corrosion Control course. He was certified and successfully completed the Disaster Preparedness Support Team/Mobility Team in 1976. He successfully completed the Principles Techniques of Chemical Grouting course in 1977. Strategic Air Command presented him with the Missile Combat Competition Certificate as first lieutenant in both 1976 and 1977. From 1978-1981, as a captain in the United States Air Force, Jerry served as Chief Contract Programming and Environmental Planning at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany. He received several commendations from the Air Force: Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship, National Defense service medal, Air Force commendation medal for his meritorious service 1974-1978 in the 314th Civil Engineering Squadron and 314th Combat support group at Little Rock AF Base in Arkansas; the Air Force Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for his meritorious service 1978-1981 in the 50th Civil Engineering Squadron at Hahn AF Base Germany; and the Air Force Outstanding Unit award.

Jerry earned a USAF diploma for successfully completing the Squadron Officer School correspondence program in 1978. The Commandant and directors of the Squadron Officer School, upon recommendation of faculty, presented him with the Squadron Officer School award in 1978. He resigned and was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1981.

Jerry held a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He served as associate pastor/education director/youth minister at University Baptist Church in San Antonio from 1982-1985. After leaving the ministry, he worked in construction for a few companies and also was self-employed.

Jerry enjoyed spending time reading his Bible, praying for his loved ones and talking to people. Everywhere he went he tried to make friends. He loved to hear others’ stories as well as share his own with anyone who would listen.

He served people by working on projects around their homes, and he especially loved training young kids in an assortment of jobs. Besides teaching his 12 grandkids to use various power tools and taking them to his beloved “Crackle Berry” (otherwise known as Cracker Barrel), he loved sharing stories from his childhood, especially the trouble he and his brother got into, fishing trips, life in the corps at A&M (the good, the bad, and the ugly), rupturing his spleen playing softball just before his wife went into labor with their oldest daughter, traveling Europe, being baptized in the Dead Sea and hiking the Black Forest just to name a few.

Jerry is survived by his daughters Andrea and her husband, Steven Riebel, from Boerne, TX, and their six children: William (Will), Victoria (Tori), Felicity, Aidan, Ian and Jayce; Ashley and her husband, David Canfield, from Georgetown, TX, and their six children: Casey, Brayden, Mikaien (Kai), Tate, Jude and Finn; his older brother, James and his wife, Laura; and their children and grandchildren; and his younger brother, Walter Anderson and his wife, Evelyn, and their children.

Funeral services will be held on January 12, 2023, at 1:15 pm. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209

After the service, we will host a gathering to celebrate his life with friends and loved ones. Location and time to be updated later. Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.