A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 for Alan Odean Anderson.
Visitation will be at Pafford Funeral Home, Lexington TN from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
The service will begin at 2:00 pm followed by burial at Independence Cemetery.
Alan, age 63, departed this life on February 5, 2024 following a long battle with cancer. Alan is the son of the late Odean and Maxine Anderson. He is survived by his sister, Kay Anderson Jackson and a nephew, Ty Dyer. Special people in Alan’s life include Dr. Karl Rogers who shared Alan’s passion for aviation and Dianne Wyatt who was a loyal friend over many years and tirelessly helped Alan throughout his illness. Alan’s home in the country (Henderson County) was a place he loved and found peace. Alan was able to fulfill his wish to spend his last days at home with the help of nurse Amy Havard.
Alan was a member of Scottsboro Church of Christ in Nashville, TN where he loved attending and shared a special friendship with the church’s 30 year minister, John Temple.
One of the many things Alan enjoyed doing was working on and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles. His goal during cancer treatment was to ride again. His favorite bikes included “Blackie”, a 1992 Heritage Softail and “Flattie” a 1943 Flathead. Alan started riding when he was 12 years old and throughout his life found his greatest happiness with the wind in his face riding his motorcycle.
Alan was highly gifted in mechanics. At the age of 12 he disassembled the engine of his grandfather’s Ford Fairlane and repaired it. The comment most often spoken about Alan was “he’s a genius when it comes to engines”. In his younger years Alan owned Al’s Auto Repair and was involved with drag strip racing and dirt track racing where he served as a track official. Additionally he raced go-carts. Throughout his life Alan welcomed the challenges associated with going fast.
Aviation became a huge passion in Alan’s life. He was a pilot, flight instructor, and an aviation mechanic with A&P and IA certificates. One of Alan’s favorite planes to fly was a J3 Piper Cub.
Alan’s most recent role in the Aviation Maintenance industry was as a DME (Designated Mechanic Examiner). To sum up what a DME does in layman’s terms, a DME holds the responsibility of ensuring one taking their oral and practical exam, after successfully completing their FAA written exams, meets the FAA’s guidelines to hold a mechanic certificate rating in airframe and/or powerplant. Alan fulfilled his obligation with utmost diligence and dedication, conducting thorough and by-the-book testing for Airframe and Powerplant ratings, testing out of North Central Institute (NCI). Alan’s commitment to aviation safety was evident as he issued FAA mandated ratings only to those that he was confident would operate in a manner and with the seriousness the A&P deserves. His diligence contributed to and will continue to contribute to the safety in the aviation maintenance field as well as the well-being of countless families that fly, by the legacy he leaves to every A&P that tested under him and continues to mentor younger, new A&Ps. Alan spent quite a bit of his time mentoring A&P’s, he had a steady stream of phone calls asking for guidance and help from those with a challenging mechanical question or trouble shooting. He loved to share his aviation enthusiasm with others by assisting with summer camps and encouraging the youth in the area, mentoring instructors on techniques, helping fix mockups for students to learn new and exciting things in a manner that made sense to him and was exciting. His zest for life was contagious and he made everyone around him feel important and cared for.
In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to support the Alan Anderson Aviation Maintenance Mentor Scholarship set up to honor Alan and his love for Aviation Maintenance and education. What better way to remember Alan than supporting others in their quest to learn about and become an AMT. Donations can be sent to:
North Central Institute
168 Jack Miller Blvd.
Clarksville TN 37042
Phone number: 931-431-9700
There will be a donation box at the service for those who would like to contribute to the scholarship fund.
For out of town friends:
Pafford Funeral Home is located at 71 Monroe Avenue, Lexington, TN 38351
Independence Cemetery 2530 Independence Loop, Lexington, TN 38351
