Arlene Marie Anderson

Arlene Marie Anderson, 75, passed away Friday, July 15, 2022. She was born on June 6, 1947 in Batavia, NY to John and Pearl Wiater. When Arlene was five years old, her parents relocated to Edgewood, MD. After several moves within Harford Co., MD, Arlene graduated from North Harford High School. She is the eldest of three children and has two brothers – Richard, who resides in Forest Hill, MD and Jan, resides in Churchville, MD.

Immediately following graduation from high school, Arlene went back to New York to have some fun for the summer. When she returned home in the fall, she found out that her friends had gone off to college or found jobs and soon began wondering why she had not received a response from an application she submitted to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. She shortly realized the government was only hiring temporary positions and she has stated she only wanted to be considered for permanent position at the U.S. Army Ordinance Center and School. There are not too many people that can say they started working for the government as a GS-1. Arlene continued to work at the Ordinance School in Academic Records for six years, continually getting promotions until she reached the grade level of GS-5.

In 1969, Arlene met the love of her life, Andy, and resigned from federal service in April 1972 to marry him. Andy worked at Fort George G. Meade, MD on the CONARC Manpower Survey Team. Arlene traveled extensively with Andy as he went TDY from one Army installation to another, visiting 22 Army installations during her nearly three and a half years hiatus from working.

In 1973, when the U.S. Continental Army Command transitioned into the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Andy’s position was recalled to headquarters and the Andersons moved to Newport News, VA. Visiting Army installations one was enough for Arlene, so when the survey team started to return to locations she had already visited, she found it time to return to work. Returning to work was to only be a temporary situation until Andy’s retirement. In 1975, she returned to a federal civil service career at Fort Monroe, VA. During the next 33 years, she only worked in DCSLOG and DCST. There were only two years of her federal service that she did not work in Army training.

Over the years, Arlene and Andy’s love of boating got them involved in a volunteer organization called the United States Power Squadron. This non-profit organization kept them busy teaching and promoting boating and water safety to the community. When they initially got involved in this organization, women were not allowed membership but Arlene joined as soon as membership opened to women. She became the Commander of a Squadron in her area and later the District 5 Commander. After many years of dedication and accomplishments, Arlene attained the status of “Life Membership”.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and an avid quilter.

She is predeceased by her husband, Francis “Andy” Anderson.

She is survived by her two brothers, Richard Paul Wiater and wife Joan and Jan Alan Wiater and wife Kathy; a niece, Wendy Marie Wiater; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held 11 A.M. Friday, July 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church by the Rev. Tony Morris. The family will receive friends at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel Thursday from 5 – 8 P.M.

The burial will be at Highview Memorial Gardens, Fallston Maryland, Monday July 25, at 11 A.M.