William J. (Bill) Anderson

William J. (Bill) Anderson

COOLVILLE—William J. (Bill) Anderson, 98, of Coolville, Ohio, died Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at his home.
He was born February 6, 1924, in Akron, Ohio, son of the late Rex and Viola Anderson. He graduated from Carthage Troy High School and attended Mountain State Business College. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was called to active duty in November, 1942, and completed pilot training in December, 1943. He arrived in China April, 1944, and completed 53 missions as a pilot of a B-24 Bomber in the 14th Air Force. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster. He returned to the United States and married his high school sweetheart, Charlene Bingman on December 14, 1944. He was then assigned to the Air Transport Command flying the C-54 transport (DC4). After the Japanese surrendered, he was the fifth plane into Tokyo. He continued his military service as a member of the Air Force Reserves for 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Col. He was a lifetime member of The American Legion Post #64 in Marietta and a member of the Coolville Masonic Lodge #337 F&AM. Bill was a member of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church, Belpre, where he served as an elder. He was employed by Union Oil Company (formerly Pure Oil Company) for 37 years. In March 2011, he married his longtime friend, Elgene Russell Higgins.
He is survived by 2 children, Karen (Bud) Downing of Coolville and Bill (Marjorie) Anderson of Portland, Oregon; 4 grandchildren, Grace and Sarah Anderson and Andy (Dawn) and Tiffany Downing; and several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Charlene and Elgene; his brothers, Lewis Clifford Anderson, Russ and Ed Fatzinger; sister, Joyce Fatzinger Kratzer and 2 grandsons, Jon and Craig Downing.
A memorial service will be held at 6 P.M., March 15, 2022, at Pioneer Presbyterian Church in Belpre, Ohio, with Pastor Rick Hastings officiating. The family will be accepting friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the National VFW or to St. Jude’s.
Arrangements have been entrusted to White-Schwarzel Funeral Home in Coolville, Ohio.
You are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.whiteschwarzelfh.com .