Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday for John Thomas Anderson, 229 Wengler Ave., Sharon, who passed away peacefully at 1:32 p.m. on Tuesday (2-10-09) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System with his family at his side. He was 62.
John was born in Sharon on October 10, 1946 the son of Thomas and Betty Good Anderson.
He graduated from Sharon High School in 1964 and from Slippery Rock University in 1969 where he played both Football and Track.
For 35 years, John was a health and physical education teacher for Sharon City Schools retiring in 2005. He spent many years being actively involved as Sharon's assistant athletic director and coaching basketball, football, volleyball, and track. He was also the driver's education instructor for the school district until June 2008.
John started his own driver's education business under the name Anderson Hi-Pt School of Safe Driving. For over 20 years, John was employed in the summer months by the Army Corps of Engineers as a park ranger at the Shenango Valley Reservoir.
He was a member of St. Adalberts Church, Farrell.
He was a member of the Italian Home, Farrell, and Fur Fin and Feather Sportsman Club, Shenango Twp.
John had many interests including hunting, fishing, playing cards, gardening, traveling, and working on his log cabin in Somerset County. Most of all Papa John loved spending time with his grandchildren.
His wife the former Kathleen Songer whom he married on January 15, 1979, Survives at home. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Brenna Anderson, Chesapeake, Va; four sons, Christopher Anderson and his wife Jeanette, Pulaski; Joshua Anderson and his wife Carrie, Hermitage; Corey, Orlando, Florida; and John Alan, Sharon; two sisters, Linda Griffith, and her husband Richard, and Nancy Sheehan and her husband Thomas, all Mercer; two brothers, Thomas Anderson and his wife Cathy, Chesapeake, Va; and Carl Anderson and his wife Diana, Pierson, Florida; his mother, Betty Anderson, Davenport, Florida; five grandchildren, Shane, Mason, Alexandria, Ryleigh, and Reagann, and many nieces and nephews.
His father preceded him in death.
In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made out to the Shenango Valley Foundation to be used for the John Anderson Memorial Scholarship fund and they may be sent to the Shenango Valley Foundation 33 Chestnut Street Sharon, PA 16146. Please write John Anderson in the memo of the check.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday (2-11-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon.
Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday (2-12-09) at 11:00 a.m. in St .Adalberts Church with Rev. Daniel J. Kresinski, pastor of the church, and Rev. James A. Reardon, St. John Parish, Tidioute, Pa. as concelebrants.
Interment: St. Rose Cemetery, Hermitage.