John Cecil Anderson

Dr. John Cecil Anderson, age 103 of Dayton, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Mud Camp, KY, on August 23, 1918, the son of the late Leslie Anderson and Ruby (Anderson) Anderson. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Harriet (VanOrder) Anderson; his son, John Douglas “JD” Anderson; his brother, Leslie Clavin Anderson; and his sister, Margie Everett.

Dr. Anderson graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1941 and attended the University of Illinois until January 1942 when he entered the US Navy. While in the Navy, he served as a Chief Petty Officer in the South Pacific during World War II. He returned and graduated from the University of Illinois after his time in the Navy. He then graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Th.D. in ancient languages.

Dr. Anderson moved to Dayton in 1955 to become a professor of Greek, Hebrew, and Bible at Bryan College. He was a member and former Sunday School teacher at Grace Bible Church.

He is survived by his son, Jim (Priscilla) Anderson of Dayton; his daughter, Anita (Rev. Dan) McMillan of Athens; his brother, Sam Anderson of Soddy Daisy; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services with military honors for Dr. Anderson will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Rudd Auditorium on the campus of Bryan College with Dr. Jim Woychuk and Rev. David Hobbs officiating. He will be laid to rest next to his wife at Rhea Memory Gardens on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at 12:00 noon.

The service will be live streamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/dr-john-anderson .

Memorial gifts in Dr. Anderson’s name may be made to Bryan College, 721 Bryan Dr., Dayton, TN 37321.

Please share your memories of Dr. Anderson on his online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN. The family will receive friends after 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Rudd Auditorium at Bryan College.