Obituary for James Lavalette Anderson
James Lavalette Anderson died peacefully on January 30, 2023, surrounded by family members at Rose Garden, Ann’s Choice, Warminster, PA. He was born May 29, 1929, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of George Kerr Anderson Jr. and Marie Shaw Anderson. In 1933, his family moved to a small house on Bristol Road, Ivyland, PA where he lived most of his life. He married Anne Christine Powell in 1953 at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Chapel, Bryn Mawr, PA.
He graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1951 and served in the US Naval Air Force from 1951-56. In the Navy, he sailed on the aircraft carrier, USS Midway, piloting an AD A-1h Sky Raider. Jim had a life-long passion for flying. He started as a pilot for TWA in 1956 where he had an exceptional career and flew as captain of the Lockheed Constellation, Boeing 727, 707, 747 and the Lockheed 1011. He was honored as TWA Flight Deck Man of the Year in 1969. He was an avid private pilot and a regular at the Warrington and Doylestown Airports. He was always on the go. Jim flew his 1946 Taylorcraft to Oshkosh EAA air show and his Mooney to Alaska in 1994. Jim flew his Mooney until he was 87 years old and logged a remarkable 30,000+ hours of flight time. His other passion was antique cars. Jim drove his 1929 Model ‘A’ Roadster solo from PA to FL when he was 83 years old, the same age as the car.
In addition to his devoted wife, he is survived by five children: James L. Anderson Jr. and his wife Jingjie Chu of Gainesville, FL, Douglas Kerr Anderson and his wife Sharri B. Anderson of Hillsboro, OR, Thomas Moylan Anderson and his wife Nancy B. Anderson of Palmetto Bay, FL, Michael George Anderson and his wife Barbara P. Anderson of Haddonfield, NJ and his daughter Joanne C. Greene wife of Douglas Greene of Birdsboro, PA. He had one other son, Stephen Powell Anderson who predeceased him in 1980. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Amy K. Anderson wife of Michael Zose, Alyssa G. Anderson, James L. Anderson III and Eden Kalyanapu, Chu-Mei C. Anderson, Chu-Li M. Anderson, Chandler Anderson Karpowich wife of Philip T. Karpowich, Thomas M. Anderson Jr. husband of Michelle Anderson, Emily S. Anderson, Georgia B. Anderson, Payton C. Anderson and Michael G. Anderson Jr.; and three great grandchildren Alexandra G. Zose, Grayson M. Zose and Charlotte M. Karpowich.
Jim was a charming individual who took a unique path in life. He will be missed by his many friends and family.
The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Ivyland Presbyterian Church, 51 Gough Ave., Ivyland, PA 18974. A memorial service will be held at the Church starting at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Ivyland Presbyterian Church, at the above address or Golden Age Air Museum, Grimes Airfield, 371 Airport Rd., Bethel, PA 19507.
He graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1951 and served in the US Naval Air Force from 1951-56. In the Navy, he sailed on the aircraft carrier, USS Midway, piloting an AD A-1h Sky Raider. Jim had a life-long passion for flying. He started as a pilot for TWA in 1956 where he had an exceptional career and flew as captain of the Lockheed Constellation, Boeing 727, 707, 747 and the Lockheed 1011. He was honored as TWA Flight Deck Man of the Year in 1969. He was an avid private pilot and a regular at the Warrington and Doylestown Airports. He was always on the go. Jim flew his 1946 Taylorcraft to Oshkosh EAA air show and his Mooney to Alaska in 1994. Jim flew his Mooney until he was 87 years old and logged a remarkable 30,000+ hours of flight time. His other passion was antique cars. Jim drove his 1929 Model ‘A’ Roadster solo from PA to FL when he was 83 years old, the same age as the car.
In addition to his devoted wife, he is survived by five children: James L. Anderson Jr. and his wife Jingjie Chu of Gainesville, FL, Douglas Kerr Anderson and his wife Sharri B. Anderson of Hillsboro, OR, Thomas Moylan Anderson and his wife Nancy B. Anderson of Palmetto Bay, FL, Michael George Anderson and his wife Barbara P. Anderson of Haddonfield, NJ and his daughter Joanne C. Greene wife of Douglas Greene of Birdsboro, PA. He had one other son, Stephen Powell Anderson who predeceased him in 1980. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Amy K. Anderson wife of Michael Zose, Alyssa G. Anderson, James L. Anderson III and Eden Kalyanapu, Chu-Mei C. Anderson, Chu-Li M. Anderson, Chandler Anderson Karpowich wife of Philip T. Karpowich, Thomas M. Anderson Jr. husband of Michelle Anderson, Emily S. Anderson, Georgia B. Anderson, Payton C. Anderson and Michael G. Anderson Jr.; and three great grandchildren Alexandra G. Zose, Grayson M. Zose and Charlotte M. Karpowich.
Jim was a charming individual who took a unique path in life. He will be missed by his many friends and family.
The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Ivyland Presbyterian Church, 51 Gough Ave., Ivyland, PA 18974. A memorial service will be held at the Church starting at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Ivyland Presbyterian Church, at the above address or Golden Age Air Museum, Grimes Airfield, 371 Airport Rd., Bethel, PA 19507.