Dr. Richard E. Anderson Passes at 91
Richard E. Anderson, 91, senior pastor at Faith Tabernacle Church in San Jacinto, Calif., for nearly 50 years, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday in Hemet, Calif.
He was born to Earl and Dewey Anderson on March 23, 1921, in Hobart, Okla. At 18, he was gloriously saved and called into ministry. Anderson was one of God’s Generals with a 73-year heritage of victory in faith and full gospel ministry.
He was ordained a minister with the Pentecostal Church of God in 1941. Anderson specialized in educating ministers and lay leaders involved in the ministry through School of Bible Theology Seminary and University (SBTSU.org), and was a valiant defender of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Pentecostal distinctives.
Anderson held three degrees in theology—a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctorate. He was a chaplain with honorary status as a Lt. Col. in the United States Army. He also servaed as president of Pentecostal Assemblies of God of America (PAGA.org), an International fellowship of Pentecostal ministries and churches. The love of his life and wife of more than 65 years, Birdie Laura Anderson, preceded him in death as did his son, Richard L. Anderson.
Anderson is survived by his daughter, Judith Leeper, and her husband, Pastor Randy Leeper; daughter, Cheryl Anderson-Sanchez and her husband, Paul Sanchez; son, Dr. Stephen Anderson, president of Transworld Accrediting Commission International and his wife, Deborah Anderson; 11 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; sister, Ruth Smith; sister, Peggy Criffield and her husband Larry Criffield; sister-in-law, Madelyn Frazier; and daughter-in-law, Shirley Flowers and her husband Michael Flowers.
Anderson touched many lives and will be truly missed by all those who were honored to know him and who loved him.
