Major (Retired Army) Edgar "Andy" N. Anderson

Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory

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Posted by: Sorrells Funeral Home
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(334) 347-9598
Date: Oct 11 2015 5:55 PM

Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory

4550 Boll Weevil Circle

Enterprise, Alabama 36330

(334) 347-9598

    Date: October 11, 2015

Obituary: Major (Retired Army) Edgar “Andy” N. Anderson

 

Major (Retired Army) Edgar “Andy” N. Anderson of The Terrace at Grove Park on Dothan and formerly of Enterprise passed away Sunday, October 11, 2015 in Dothan. He was 96.

 

Graveside services will be 10:00am Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at the Meadowlawn cemetery with Rev. Doug Lewis officiating and Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory of Enterprise directing.  In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to a favorite charity.

 

Major Anderson was a native of Oklahoma and entered the military service in 1938 with the Oklahoma National Guard. Graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK in 1942, he served in the European Theater as an artillery office with the First Infantry Division. He began his flying career as an Army Liaison Pilot and Instructor Pilot in both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters at Fort Sill, OK, Fort Wolters, TX and Fort Rucker, AL. He served with the Seventh Infantry Division in Japan and Korea. His decorations include the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with fourteen Oak Leaf Clusters. Among his many other acts of meritorious service, Andy was instrumental in bringing about significant improvements in the safety of the Army’s training helicopter. While serving at Fort Rucker and after witnessing the grievous and painful injuries that fellow soldiers suffered from fires during crashes of the TH-55 “Mattel Messerschmitt” helicopter, he developed innovative concepts for strengthening the helicopter’s fuel tanks by wrapping them with a fiberglass-like covering. Overcoming many naysayers who said this couldn’t be done, some of whom were in high positions of authority within the Army, Andy insisted that “We can and must do something about this!” Because of Andy’s initiative and dedication to his fellow soldiers, the modifications were made and  numerous lives were saved for years afterwards. Following his retirement from service, he continued to work for the Army at Fort Wolters, TX as Chief of Flight Training Quality Control and later as an Air Safety Specialist at Fort Rucker.

 

His wife of 56 years, Eloise E. Anderson preceded him in death.  

 

Survivors include his son, Richard A. Anderson (Grace) of Garland, TX as well as his daughter, Gail Golembiewski of Dayton, OH.

Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory of Enterprise, (334) 347-9598, is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com. 

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