John Anderson

PRINCETON – John P. Anderson, 78, of Princeton, died Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Princeton Community Hospital. Born August 14, 1934 at Matoaka, he was the son of the late Garland Anderson and Beulah Davidson Anderson. Mr. Anderson graduated from Matoaka High School Magna Cum Laude and received his college degree from West Virginia University Cum Laude. He went to Washington, DC and began working as a Congressional Liaison Officer, working with political figures such as Bobby and John Kennedy and eventually his service was requested by John Kennedy to help manage the Kennedy presidential campaign in West Virginia. After the death of President John Kennedy, he entered Law School at WVU. In 1967 John moved to Princeton and began his private law practice which was a success for the next 46 years. He was a member of the WV Bar Association and Mercer County Bar Association. He played a pivotal role in the growth and betterment of the state of West Virginia, Mercer County and the surrounding area. He served two terms as Mercer County Commissioner and was president of the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the WV Turnpike Commission. Most importantly, he was instrumental in the purpose, development and construction of the Mercer County Courthouse Annex. John was an outdoorsman and an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved his farm in Lerona and raised his garden every year. He enjoyed history and had a passion for politics. He was an avid WVU fan and most of all loved his family and grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Jack W. Anderson; and three sisters, Virginia Boone, Joan Ann Burnette and Billie June Testino. Survivors include his wife, Dana Hawks Anderson; three children, Karen Gorman of Athens, GA, John C. Anderson of Athens, GA and Virginia Anderson of Watkinsville, GA; two step-children, Kia Hebb and her husband Wayne of Princeton and Micah Musick of Princeton; one sister, Carol Lee Vensel and her husband Jack of West Alexander, PA; six grandchildren, Gage Gorman, Forster Gorman, Hannah Gorman, Claudia Gorman, Cheyenne Anderson and Andie Schultz; three step-grandchildren, Kameren Musick, Derian Musick and Adrian Musick. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Paul Furrow officiating. Entombment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Princeton. Serving as pallbearers will be John Anderson, Gage Gorman, Forster Gorman, Butch Wolfe, Jacob Hawks and Jim Hawks. The family will receive friends Wednesday, April 10, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. To view a video tribute to Mr. Anderson, or send the family online condolences, please visit www.bailey-kirk.com.

Tributes

John Anderson

April 6, 2013