Doc. William H. Anderson, Jr. M.D.

Prominent local physician, Dr. William H. “Doc” Anderson, Jr., M.D., 88, died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, April 14, 2015, of natural causes. He was a resident at The Villa at the Lake, 48 Parrish Road in Conneaut, OH.

Dr. Anderson was born in West Point, GA, on July 4, 1926, to parents William Henry Anderson, Sr., and Nannie Ruth McGinty Anderson. He lived most of his adult life in West Springfield, PA, where he practiced medicine for 35 years as a general practitioner, surgeon, and cardiologist. He was Chief Cardiologist at Brown Memorial Hospital in Conneaut, OH.

He graduated from West Point High School in the class of 1943. His attendance at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, was interrupted by voluntary service in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Corpsman, and as a U.S. Marine Corp medical attaché, serving time with the occupation forces in Nagasaki, Japan. He was a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine in 1953, and completed his internship at Roper Hospital in Charleston, SC, in 1955. He began his medical practice on July 1, 1955, and retired August 6, 1990.

During his years of service to the community, Dr. Anderson did general practice; delivered over 400 babies; was company physician for S.J. Groves Construction Co. during the construction of Interstate 90; read and interpreted EKG’s for area physicians; responded to community disasters including the 1985 tornado in Albion, PA. On seeing the need for in-field care, Dr. Anderson instituted and administered emergency care systems for the local fire departments in East Springfield, PA, and Conneaut, OH. In 1978 he facilitated the establishment of a School for Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technicians in association with Brown Memorial Hospital and served as its Director. He also served as Medical Director at Inn Conn Nursing Home from its establishment in 1990.

Dr. Anderson was a licensed pilot and logged many hours in his beloved Piper Cub. He and Mrs. Anderson travelled extensively in their free time, visiting Europe, South Africa, Egypt, The Holy Land, Canada, and most U.S. states, including Hawaii and Alaska. Commissioned as a Full Commander with American Hawaii Cruise Lines, Dr. Anderson also served as ship’s physician on several of their island cruises from 1988 to 1990.

He was a member of the Baptist faith and attended church regularly throughout his life. He served various congregations as church treasurer, deacon, choir member, and medical consultant on several mission trips to Haiti. He was a member of the Duke University Alumni Association and was a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda H. Anderson, whom he married on March 24, 1951, in Durham, NC; his brothers Wiley S. Anderson of Independence, MO, and Ray C. Anderson of Atlanta, GA; and his oldest son William Earl.

He is survived by five children: Walt (Lois) Anderson of Albion, IN; Claire Anderson of Slippery Rock, PA; Christina (Dennis) Harvey of Montville, OH; Warren (Frances) Anderson of Conneaut, OH; and Catherine Little of Black Mountain, NC; also 17 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Life Celebration Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 18, at West Springfield Baptist Church, 13695 Ridge Road, West Springfield, PA.  Burial will follow at the Springfield Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, April 17, at the JEAN EVANS THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME, 11883 Main Street, East Springfield, PA.