Col. Luther B. Anderson Sr.

Asheville - Col. Luther Burton Anderson, Sr., 82, of 30 Adams Hill Road, died Saturday August 10, 2002 following a period of declining health. Col. Anderson was born in Blue Ridge, Georgia September 10, 1919 to the late Mark C. and Lottie Azalee Anders Anderson and had resided in Buncombe County most of his life. He was a 1937 graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School. Col. Anderson joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1941 and during WW II served as an Instructor in Pilot Training, Armament-Ordinance Officer, Fighter Pilot in the 13th AF in Panama with the 43rd. Fighter Squadron flying the P-47 and as an Instructor in Rocket Launching in Lockheed Lightning P-38. Before his career was over, he flew many types of aircraft and received a Commercial Certificate for single and multi-engine land planes. In 1947, he reverted to Reserve Status and left active duty. He held the rank of Major at the time. He stayed in the Air Force Reserves and served as Operations Officer and Squadron Commander of the 9943rd. Air Reserve Squadron in Western North Carolina. He held mobilization assignments at Air Force Headquarters and at Headquarters, Air Force Europe in Weisbaden, Germany. Some tours of active duty were performed in Europe, South America and some at schools operated by the U.S. State Department. Col. Anderson is a graduate of the Command and Staff College of the Air Force and attended the War College in Washington, D.C. He was a life member of the Reserve Officers Association and has held many offices in the organization. He was President of the W.N.C. Chapter, President of the N.C. Department, Chairman of the National Air Force Affairs Section and Chairman of the National Nominating Committee as well as serving as National Councilman from N.C. He authored a training manual published by the Continental Training Command and a booklet for the Intelligence Unit at Fort Belvoir, Va. In 1979, Col. Anderson retired from the military after 38 years of service. In civilian life he served as a Law Enforcement Officer, Chief of Enforcement and as a Supervisor of the Asheville Alcoholic Beverage Control System retiring in December of 1981 following 33 years of service with the ABC Board. He along with his family have been members of Haywood Street United Methodist Church since 1948 where he has held many lay positions. Col. Anderson has served the Asheville community as a member of the Asheville Rotary Club, former Secretary/Treasurer of the Asheville Exchange Club and served as President of the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society and the Big Ivy Historical Society. He has worked as a volunteer in the United Way Fund Drives and served the Buncombe County School System as a School Committeeman and as Chairman of the site selection and building committee of the Erwin High School. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Morgan Anderson who died June 12, 1992; sisters, Wennonah Smith, Pauline Anderson and Virginia Stackhouse and brothers, Oakley and Jack Anderson. Surviving are his son, Luther B. Anderson, Jr. and wife, Donna of Asheville; daughter, Edel Anderson Seay of Asheville; sister, Barbara Moore and husband, Lee of Asheville; brothers, Charles Anderson and wife, Joan of Asheville and Carl R. Anderson and wife, Emily of Austin, Tx; grandchildren, James B. Anderson and wife, Virginia of Hendersonville, Laura Anderson Branch, George Jonathan Seay and wife, Peggie all of Asheville; great grandchildren, Alexander and Catherine Anderson of Hendersonville, Connor and Addison Seay of Asheville and several nieces and nephews. Military graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Green Hills Cemetery with honors conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Haywood Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Dorothy Thomas officiating. A reception will follow the memorial service in the church Fellowship Hall and at other times the family will be at his residence. Memorials may be made to: Lewis Palmer Scholarship fund, % Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC 28754.