Dorothea “Dottie” Mae (Williams) Anderson

Dorothea Mae (Williams) Anderson (“Dottie”) passed away on November 16, 2017 at the age of 97 years.

A native of Philadelphia, “Dottie” attended Fisk University, the University of Cincinnati, and Ohio State University, earning a graduate degree in English literature. She was named “Miss Ohio State” in 1940 in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She married John E. Anderson, Jr. of St. Louis in 1941, a union that continued until his passing in 1997.

Moving to St. Louis after completing her master’s degree, Dottie joined the forces of women referred to as “Rosie the Riveter,” assembling fighter plane wings during the war. She pursued her career in education in the St. Louis Public Schools from 1946 until she retired in 1986, beginning at Stowe Teacher’s College, and later at Harris Teacher’s College before the two were combined in name.

Dottie was an active member of The Booklovers, the oldest African American professional women’s association in the St. Louis area. She was also an active volunteer and supporter of the Cabanne Branch Library in St. Louis.

Dottie is survived by her son Joel of Columbia, Missouri (and wife Deb), her daughter, Dawn of Lawrence, Kansas, and her grandson Jonathan of St. Louis. She is also survived by three of her siblings: Sadye Snead, Harriette Williams, and Burton Williams.

A Celebration of Dottie’s life will be held in Columbia Missouri in January 21, 2018. Dottie will be laid to rest with her husband John at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Memorial donations in the name of Dorothea W. Anderson may be made to the St. Louis Public Library Foundation. 1415 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103.