John Paul Anderson

John Paul Anderson died at his home early Thursday morning, October 11, 2012 surrounded by faithful friends. To his very last breath he taught those around him lessons in assurance, trust, and surrender.

John was born to parents, Raye and Paul, on September 1, 1938 in Austin, TX. He completed high school in Agua Dulce, Texas as the salutatorian in a class of 16, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business. In 1961, John married his childhood sweetheart, Betty Gayle Schwartz. John was shaped profoundly by his marriage of over half a century to Betty, who died April 26. Together they raised their son, Tommy (“TJ”), enjoying many years of learning and adventure as a family. During Tommy’s years playing baseball, John coached many of his teams, traveling the state from Alpine to Jacksonville. In later years, John cherished time spent with Tommy, his wife, Rhonda, and grandchildren Collin, Kelsey, and Jake.

When Betty’s mother died in 1992, John’s relationship with God became the center of his life, and Betty supported him fully as he assumed new roles and responsibilities at Saint John’s. He became a certified lay minister and the lay leader, chairing many church committees, leading capital campaigns, accompanying youth and adults on mission trips, and inspiring many to generosity and service both in and beyond the church. As a Bible teacher, he influenced an entire generation of students of the Bible, encouraging honest inquiry and inviting trust in the God of Scripture. He managed these many roles and responsibilities with poise, humility, graciousness, and generosity of spirit.

John will be remembered for his generosity, humility, cheerfulness, sense of humor, inclusiveness, integrity, and perseverance. He was devoted to his family, friends, church and professional communities. John was a partner in ministry with every Saint John’s pastor for over two decades, and also left footprints in the accounting, youth sports, mental health, and recovery communities. His regard in legal circles and among the congregation of Saint John’s United Methodist Church has been profound.

John fought cancer over the last several months, having been diagnosed with leukemia the day following Betty’s funeral. He wanted to live, and savored every moment of life, but was unafraid to die. He held a deep assurance in the abiding truth of that promise from one of his favorite passages in Paul’s letter to the Romans—that neither life nor death can separate us from the love of God.

John is survived by his son, Tommy Anderson and his wife, Rhonda, of Flower Mound and three grandchildren, Collin, Kelsey, and Jake.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Sunday, the 14th of October 2012, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A graveside service will be conducted at half past two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 15th of October 2012, in Austin Memorial Park, Austin, Texas under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at four o’clock in the afternoon on Monday at Saint John’s United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Road, Austin. A reception will follow.

To honor John’s service to his church as a teacher, as well as Betty’s steadfast encouragement and support of his teaching ministry, his church is establishing the Betty and John Anderson Lectureship at Saint John’s United Methodist Church. Memorial gifts for this purpose can be directed to Saint John’s United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Road, Austin, Texas 78756 .