William Edward "Ed" Anderson

william anderson

December 1, 1939 ~ November 6, 2019

Born in: Halifax, VA
Resided in: Asheville, NC

William Edward Anderson, 79 of Asheville, died peacefully on November 6th, 2019. A native of South Boston, Virginia, he was born on December 1, 1939 to the late Edward Kerns Anderson and Selma Mae Anderson.

Following his high school graduation, he became an Apprenticeship Graduate of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. where he proudly worked to build the USS Enterprise. Ed graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia with a degree in Industrial Engineering. In 1987, he relocated to Asheville as Plant Manager of ITT Automotive. He established three automotive brake manufacturing facilities in Asheville, Morganton and Henderson County employing approximately 2,000 people. In 1995, he was awarded the ITT Harold S. Geneen Award for Unique Team Achievement for building support and cooperation between the German and North American brake manufacturing teams. Following his retirement from ITT Automotive, he helped establish Hasco, Inc., an automotive injection molding company located in Buncombe County and Eco-Panels, LLC a green energy construction firm located in Mocksville, North Carolina.

In Asheville, Ed was known for his community service of ten years on the Board of Mission Hospital, Mountain Workforce Development Board and Mountain Bizworks. Ed’s passion for automobiles enabled him to drive his 1939 Pontiac in several Great Races Across America with his friend and navigator, John Davies. Following retirement, he focused his skills on woodturning and spending time at John C. Campbell Folk School and Arrowmont in woodturning classes. Among his pleasures were family reunions with his cousins especially at the “home place” in South Boston, Virginia. His greatest delight was visiting his children and granddaughters and traveling with his wife, Becky across the United States and Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Becky Anderson of Asheville; his daughter, Cheryl Anderson of Christiansburg, Virginia and fiancée Dennis Smith; his son, Mark and daughter in-law, Rosette Anderson of Novi, Michigan; his stepdaughter, Lynn Williams and partner, Billy Luther of Cape Carteret, North Carolina and his stepson, Alan Williams and wife, Darleen Wilson of Lowell, Massachusetts. He has three granddaughters, Alex Wiltsee of Knoxville, Tennessee; Kirsten and Sydney Anderson of Novi, Michigan.

The family extends gratitude to the staff of Memory Care, Givens Health Center and Four Seasons Hospice for their support, service and compassionate caregiving. His family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, November 15 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Road in Arden.

A Memorial Service will be held in the Norma F. Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates (2360 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville), on Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Ed Hillman officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC,28803; Givens Staff Appreciation Fund, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or Four Seasons Hospice, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Services

Visitation: November 15, 2019 6:00 pm - March 29, 2024 8:00 pm

Room: Chapel

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704

(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com

Celebration of Life: November 16, 2019 11:00 am

Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates
100 Wesley Drive
Asheville, 28803

828-274-4800

Funeral Home Assisting The Family:

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704

(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com

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Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in William Edward "Ed" Anderson 's name.

Four Seasons Compassion For Life

571 S. Allen Road
Flat Rock, NC 28731 28731

Givens Estates Staff Appreciation Fund

2360 Sweeten Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28803

Memory Care

100 Far Horizons Lane
Asheville, NC 28803

Memories Timeline

Photo Gallery

Guestbook

  1. Thinking about you all of the Anderson Family and sending prayers from Dublin Virginia.
    Much Love
    Don and Anita Smith

  2. Becky, I am so sorry for your loss.
    Ed was such a nice man.
    My thoughts are with you during this difficult time
    Barbara Meliski

  3. My deepest and most sincere sympathies, to you, Becky and to your family. May your years of cherished memories surround and comfort you now.

  4. Cheryl,

    My deepest condolences to you and your family for the loss of your beloved father. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Christine

  5. Becky and family, my condolences on Ed’s passing. I remember him well from his very prestigious career in the manufacturing community. He was held in very high esteem among his peers for his visionary business acumen. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  6. Becky and family…thank you so much for alerting us of Ed’s passing through his obituary in the local papers here in South Boston, Va.
    We will miss him as we remember our high school days with him here and our visits with you and Ed at your homes in Asheville. Some of our mutual high school classmates were here several weeks ago and all asked warmly about Ed. God Bless him and our loving memory of this good man. Bless you Becky. Our hearts go out to you in his passing. Ted and Lessie.

  7. We extend our sympathy to Becky and the family. Ed was a wonderful talented man whose life was taken by a cruel disease. More has to be done to prevent it. You can be proud of being a part of all he did, and in making your lives better. We are thinking of you. Love, Barbara and Barry

  8. Our deepest condolences to Becky, Cheryl, Mark and the rest of your family. Ed, and you, have a special place in our lives. Hope you find much peace and comfort in a life lived with great character, conviction, kindness and purpose. He has left quite a legacy.I

    With love, Charles, Donna, Andrew & William Fincher

  9. Our deepest condolences to Becky, Cheryl, Mark and the rest of your family. Ed, and you, have a special place in our lives. Hope you find much peace and comfort in a life lived with great character, conviction, kindness and purpose. He has left quite a legacy.

    With love, Charles, Donna, Andrew & William Fincher

  10. Why fond and funny memories growing up with Eddie…his first cousin Jeanne Farmer was our next door neighbor and we played together a lot as children…graduated with me in 1959 from Halifax County High School. We had a wonderful childhood in South Boston, VA. Deepest sympathy to his family.

  11. I was so sorry to hear of Eddie’s passing. We were in school together from first grade until I moved away from South Boston in 11th grade. Eddie’s dad and my dad worked at the same tobacco company for many years. We had such fun growing up in our tiny town. Fond memories and special thoughts of him and the times we shared will always be with me. Loving sympathy to all of the family.


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