Arthur Thelton "Thel" Anderson, Jr., of Swampscott, passed peacefully into God's Kingdom at Salem Hospital on September 25, 2023 at the age of 71. He was born on February 16, 1952 in Gloucester, MA, to the late Arthur T. "Bud" Anderson, Sr., and Geneva B. (Ellis) Anderson. On June 24, 2023 he was united in marriage to Deirdre A. Robbins of Swampscott.

Thel was a 1969 graduate of Gloucester High School, where he participated in the chess club, drama, and ROTC band.  He graduated from Salem State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He earned his Master's Degree in Counseling from Northeastern University.  He was a teacher and social worker for many years, last working for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.  He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Gloucester, MA, and also affiliated with First Baptist Church of Racine, WI, where his sister, the Reverend Holly Anderson Anderle, is the Pastor.

His hobbies were reading, avidly watching Boston/New England sports, discussing religion and politics, music, and playing chess and Scrabble. He was a talented writer. He had a beautiful tenor voice and a natural ear for harmonizing, and he loved family sing-a-longs during long car rides when he was young. He sang with his friend Josh Gordon in pubs and coffee houses.  He had a warped sense of humor, convincing his little sister that South Dakota was really North Dakota on wheels and that Wyoming was just a big hole in the ground.

Thel struggled with some challenges throughout his life, but he was at heart a loving man who did his best to overcome the burden that his mental health placed on him and on his family. In the last years he was able to find peace in his life and recovered his faith in God. He took great solace in reading his study Bible, discussing theology and politics with Deirdre, and watching his sister's worship services on You Tube.

More than anything, Thel was immensely proud of his two children, John and Christine.  He loved them with every fiber of his being and was so proud of the adults they have become.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Deirdre A. Anderson of Swampscott; son CPO John T. Anderson II, and his wife, Nina Proscia, of Oak Harbor, WA; daughter, Christine E. Anderson of Gloucester; step-son Geoffrey Harris and his wife, Erin, of Seattle, WA, and step-grandchildren Riley and Reina Harris; "baby sister," Rev. Holly Anderson Anderle  and her husband, Gregg, of Racine, WI; niece, Katherine L. (Anderle) White, and her husband, Nick; nephew Michael D. Anderle and his wife, Alicia; former wife, dear friend, and verbal sparring partner, Victoria Williams; aunt, Wendy Ellis; many cousins and other friends; and former wife Lois Elizabeth Kerr. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of Thel's life will be held at a later time to be announced.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, faith communities, and others whose treatment and prayers supported and sustained Thel over his final months, especially Dr. Daniel Deangelo and Nurse Practitioner Patrice O'Sullivan of Dana Farber Cancer Center, Dr. Christopher Tretter, Dr. Jonathan Snyder, the Reverend Andrew Stoessel, and all the wonderful doctors and nurses at Salem Hospital.