Allen Thaxton Anderson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Allen Thaxton Anderson, 79, of Lynchburg on May 1, 2025. He was the son of the late Edgar Thaxton and Edith Arthur Anderson. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 40 years Judith "Judy" Newland Anderson; his son, Jeffrey Scott Anderson; his niece, Wendy Taylor Salmon; his step grandson, Christian Gough; and Allen's near constant companion, Lieutenant Dan. Because of their faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, we celebrate their eternal peace, joy, and rest in heaven with their Lord!

Allen was born at home on the farm in Halifax County on December 14, 1945. He was a graduate of Brookville High School Class of 1964.

Allen retired from Bell Atlantic after 26 years of service, finishing his career as a fiber optic cable splicer, building much of the Central Virginia fiber optic network that runs your internet today.

Allen had many passions in his life with his longest tenured being racing, running his first motorcycle drag race at New London at the fresh young age of 15, unbeknownst to his parents! He participated in some form of motorsport his entire life, mainly at the local VA and NC stock car racing tracks. Over the years Allen owned, built, drove, and maintained his own race cars, but also shared this passion with many of his closest friends and family.

Allen was an avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying fly fishing and turkey hunting. Allen built many of his own flyrods and tied his own flies. He handcrafted multiple primitive flint lock muzzle loader Kentucky long rifles and forged and cast his own musket balls. Allen also enjoyed blacksmithing, knife making, metal fabrication, woodworking, and furniture making/refinishing. He enjoyed the forest; he built and operated his own sawmill and worked with his best friend and lifelong sidekick Tucker Lewis in his logging business that they kept busy after retirement.

Allen was an amazing man and will be deeply missed by his sister, Jeanette Morgan of Lynchburg; sons, Rob (Jennifer) Anderson of Acworth, GA, David (Pam) Anderson of Forest; and his daughter Rayna (Troy) Williams of Forest. Grieving his loss also are his 3 stepdaughters, Karen (Wayne) Wilson, Rhonda Dehart, and Shelly Lane all of Lynchburg; his dear nieces, Teresa Taylor Reynolds, and Cindy Taylor Irby. Allen is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 11 step grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 6 step great grandchildren.

Allen leaves his very special friend, Sandra Paige to cherish the memories they made over the past couple years. Thank you, Sandy, for bringing such joy and a breath of fresh life to dad's final years!

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Tharp Funeral Home 220 Breezewood Dr, Lynchburg, VA 24502 and at other times at the home of Allen's daughter, Rayna Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Allen's memory to his favorite lifelong charity, St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family