William Gwyn Anderson, Sr

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Bill, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend to all whose lives he touched, on October 20, 2021.

One of six children to Gwyn and Ruby, he was born in Mount Airey, North Carolina, but always considered his home Galax, Virginia. As a young child, he loved baseball, mathematics, and reading. At one point he had read a book about the Marine Corps and felt compelled to enlist to see if he had the skills and ability to be a Marine. He subsequently dropped out of high school and earned his GED before enlisting.

His military career provided him the opportunity to live in a variety of cities in the U.S. and abroad, including Millington, Tennessee, where he met his wife, Barbara. He served several tours in Vietnam during the war as a helicopter door gunner and continued with aircraft maintenance in the Corps' Airwing division upon his return to the States.

Bill earned his Bachelor's degree while serving his beloved country. He also earned a Master's degree in technological engineering from Memphis State University. He worked in a variety of positions but ultimately went back to school to become a teacher, thereafter teaching elementary, secondary, and college students. He was an avid reader of history, biographies, and philosophy. He loved the Lord, his family, his country, and his beloved Corps. He also was a lover of music, dad jokes, and classic vehicles, especially the International Harvester Scout. As a retired marine, he was proficient in the use of the knife hand, reminding his sons to "pay attention," and that there were no stupid questions, just stupid people that ask questions. 

Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by his parents Gwyn and Ruby (Trimble) Anderson, sister Mildred Getzinger and brother Roger Anderson. He is survived by his dear wife, Barbara (Marchant) Anderson; brothers Virgil Anderson, John Anderson; sister Sonya Farmer; children, Kathleen Anderson, Kristen Anderson, William Anderson Jr., and his wife Kimberly Anderson, James Anderson, Joshua Anderson and his wife Katie (Keefe) Anderson; grandchildren, Krystian Larson, Kyrin Larson, Charles Larson, Ka'ena Larson, Kristina Perdew (Grant), Jessica Nelson (Roark), Christopher McVane, Sarah Melton (Isaac), William Anderson III, Ethan Anderson, Samantha Anderson, and Anastasia Anderson; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. 

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 pm on November 21st, 2021 at the Highland Seventh Day Adventist Church in Portland, Tennessee.