BERNE — Clayton Edward “Bud” Anderson died on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, nineteen days before his 90th birthday. A teacher and a man of unshakeable faith, Mr. Anderson traveled as far as Russia for missionary work.

Mr. Anderson was born on Dec. 5, 1927 in Waterbury, Connecticut, to G. Edward and Myrtle (née Elsdon) Anderson. He graduated from Naugatuck High School in 1944, and went on to serve in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1947. He attended Boston University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1952, and received a master’s of education degree from Union College in Schenectady in 1955.

Mr. Anderson became a teacher, and taught at Frisbie Elementary School in Wolcott, Connecticut, and at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park. From 1956 to 1960, he took his skills overseas to Britain and France to teach with the United States Air Force. He later taught at Niskayuna High School, becoming the chairman of the social studies department. After working for the district for 29 years, he retired in 1989.

Mr. Anderson was married 60 years to his wife, Phyllis Doreen (née Colsell) Anderson. The two connected over a love of faith. Mrs. Anderson was 21 when she saw her future husband on the baseball field at a Bible camp in New Hampshire.

“I thought, ‘Wow, what a hunk,’” she said.

But she became smitten with him when she saw him later on reciting a sermon in the chapel. The couple had three children — Jan, John, and Jeffrey — to whom Mr. Anderson was a loving father.

Mr. Anderson made his home in many places, including Berne; Winter Bay, Prince Edward Island; Boise, Idaho; and Boca Raton, Florida. He also was a man of unshakeable faith, and traveled to many other places as a missionary. He and his wife went to Yaroslav, Russia, following his retirement from teaching. He also was involved with the Albany City Mission; Camp Berea in Hebron, New Hampshire; Bellevue Gospel Chapel in Schenectady; and Charlottetown Bible Chapel in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

“Bud will be remembered as a man who loved the Lord with all his heart,” wrote his family. “In little matters and big, he served God faithfully, driven by the passion of reaching a lost world for Christ.”

Mr. Anderson loved the many places he lived. He enjoyed taking walks and nature, and found the Prince Edward Island shoreline breathtaking. He owned five acres in Berne, where he gardened; split wood; tapped maple trees for syrup; and raised goats, steers, pigs, and chickens.

Mr. Anderson was an especially talented writer and storyteller, and also was gifted at photography, drawing, and painting. He loved to read, and would quote from Robert Service by the cottage firelight. He was fond of the Dodgers, the Waltons, and homemade bread fresh from the oven.

****

Mr. Anderson is survived by his devoted wife, Phyllis Doreen (née Colsell) Anderson; his children, Jan Anderson; John Anderson and his wife, Catherine Anderson; and Jeffrey Anderson and his wife, Darcy Anderson; his grandchildren, Francine Toupin and her husband, Maxime Hémond, Zoë Toupin, Samuel Anderson and his wife, Chantel Anderson, Olivia Anderson, Hannah Anderson, Noah Anderson, and Lucy Anderson; and his great-granddaughter, Chloé Hémond. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Esther Fiorini and her husband, Thom Fiorini; Peter Loescher and his wife, Connie Loescher; Ruthie Ireland and her husband, Michael Ireland; Tim Loescher and his wife, Christa Loescher; David Pollitt and his wife, Yenni Pollitt; and Chris Pollitt and his wife, Michelle Houle.

His sister, Nancy Loescher, died before him; as did his niece, Sharon Pollitt; and his sister-in-law, Eleanor Pollitt. Mrs. Loescher is survived by her husband, Ron Loescher; Mrs. Pollitt is survived by her husband, Ed Pollitt.

A celebration of Mr. Anderson’s life will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. in the community room of Starlite Condominiums at 555 NW Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33432.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mission Aviation Fellowship International, Post Office Box 47, Nampa, ID 83653, or at maf.org/donate.

More information about Mr. Anderson’s life may be found at http://cea.whatwelove.org/.

— H. Rose Schneider