The Rev. Gary W. Anderson, 67, of Hilliard, died March 7, 2013, at Kobacker House, Columbus, surrounded by his friends and family. He touched the lives of countless people throughout his ministry and through his strength and good humor in the weeks before his death.

He was born in Sacramento, Calif., to Albert and Evelyn (Quammen) Anderson. He graduated from Mount Clemens High School in Mount Clemens, Mich., and in 1968 obtained a bachelor's degree from Capital University, where he met his wife of 42 years, Mary Lou (Boies) Anderson, who survives.

Other survivors are a brother, Alan Anderson of Mount Clemens, Mich.; children, Kyle (Amy) Anderson of Hilliard, and Kirsten Anderson of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren, Daniel, Kate and Ava. He also served as host parent to eight Youth for Understanding international exchange students.

He earned a Master of Divinity from Evangelical (Trinity) Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, serving an internship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., before being ordained at his home congregation, American Lutheran Church in Mount Clemens.

He was pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dillsboro, Ind., from 1972 to 1978; St. Paul and Zion Lutheran churches in Rockford from 1978 to 1993; and St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Brookville, Ind., from 1993 to 2010. He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Dublin.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was a radio announcer on WCOL-FM and WCBE-FM in Columbus, and in the 1990s at WCSM AM-FM in Celina. He was director of Lutheran Youth Camp in Versailles, Ind.; was one of the first Area Council on Aging directors in the state of Indiana; was president of the Western Conference of the American Lutheran Church's Ohio District; dean of the Southeastern Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; president of the Mercer County (Ohio) Mental Health Board; member of the Brookville (Ind.) Kiwanis Club; field manager for the Youth for Understanding international student exchange program; served on the executive committee of Stayin' Alive, a public-private partnership focused on increasing awareness of substance abuse in Franklin County, Ind.; a 4-H advisor; and an EMT.

In celebration of Rev. Anderson's life of service to his family, his community and his church, a funeral service will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Dublin at 11:30 a.m. March 16. The family will receive visitors at a meal that will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alumni Advisory Board Scholarship Fund at Capital University or to Kobacker House/OhioHealth Foundation, Columbus.

Arrangements are being handled by Tidd Funeral home with Crematory, Hilliard, www.tiddfuneralservice.com.