Ralph Graham Anderson died at his home in Athens, Tennessee on Friday, November 27, 2015. He was born in Mobile, Alabama on January 17, 1924 and moved to Apalachicola, Florida in 1925. This was where Ralph grew up and considered a second home throughout his life. Ralph served in the Navy and fought in WWII. The majority of his service years were spent aboard the aircraft carrier, Katashan Bay, in the South Pacific. In 1949, he graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Forestry and was inducted into the Forestry honor fraternity, Xi Sigma Pi. He began his career with the Florida Forest Service. He joined Bowater Southern Paper Corporation in 1954 with the paper mill startup in Calhoun, Tennessee. He retired in 1986 as President of Hiwassee Land Company. He was appointed by Governor Lamar Alexander to the Tennessee State Forestry Commission serving as chair, and also served on the Board of Directors First National Bank. As a member of Mars Hill Presbyterian church for 53 years, he served as a Deacon and Elder.
Ralph was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He took great joy in sharing his love of his native Florida panhandle with family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying fishing, hunting, and gardening. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Montgomery and Blanche Salts Anderson and infant daughter, Constance Ann Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alma “Sally” Norton Anderson, daughters, Debbie (Rob) Mayfield, Athens TN; Cindy (Mike) Baker, Knoxville TN; and Leigh (Bill) Lones, Atlanta GA. Grandchildren include Andy (Jennifer) Mayfield, Athens,TN; Tim (Maggie) Mayfield, Missoula, MT; Will and Elizabeth Baker, Knoxville, TN; and Hannah and Garrett Lones, Atlanta,Georgia. He had one great grandchild, Anderson Mayfield.

A private family burial will be held at Cedar Grove cemetery on Sunday afternoon with sons-in-law and grandsons serving as pallbearers. Military Honors will be presented at the graveside by the U.S. Navy. At 3:00, a memorial service will be held at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service.
Special Thanks go to the devoted caregivers of Golden Touch, Anna McPhail, Elsie Gentry and Amedisys Hospice who enabled Ralph to stay at home during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mars Hill Presbyterian Church, 205 N. Jackson Street, Athens, TN 37303; The United Way of McMinn and Meigs Counties, P.O. Box 1681, Athens, TN. 37371 or the charity of your choice.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Services of Athens is honored to serve the family of Ralph Graham Anderson.