F.D. “Donnie” Anderson, age 75, died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Bob & Carolyn Tucker Hospice House, Kannapolis, after several years of declining health and a serious illness of two weeks. He was born June 10, 1934, in Gaston County, the son of the late J.S. Anderson and Olivia Jane Taylor Anderson. A 1952 graduate of A.L. Brown High School, Kannapolis, he later attended Western Carolina University and Davidson College.
He served in the U.S. Army in Alaska, and during his service time, he served on the basketball and baseball teams. He was employed with the former Cannon Mills Company, Kannapolis, where he had served as manager of the order and data department and had worked for the company 38 years until his retirement.
He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, for many years where he sang in the choir, was a member of Methodist Men, was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the J.L. Smith Sunday School Class, and was active in other phases of church activities.
He was a dedicated member of the Grimes Y’s Mens Club at the YMCA for years, where he had served as president. He also, with the late Tommy Goldston, established the Cadet Basketball program there and coached the team for 25 years. He further coached the YMCA’s baseball program. He coached the girls’ middle school basketball team and the AAU basketball program, where his players knew him as “Pops.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Bette A. Lowery and Alma Lee Rayfield. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Jane McInnis Anderson; a son, Jeff Anderson and wife Karen of Kannapolis; a daughter, Donna A. Craft of Huntersville; three grandsons, William E. Craft, M. Ryan Craft and Jacob R. Anderson; three great-grandsons, Tanner Craft, Cameron Craft and Rylan Craft; one brother, Richard Anderson and wife Marion of Kannapolis; and a special friend, Bill Peeler of Kannapolis.
Memorials: May be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 416 E. First Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083; or Midway United Methodist Church, 108 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081; or Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.
Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Published in Salisbury Post on June 12, 2009