Thomas Anderson, 79, of Hoyleton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26th, 2026, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. He was born on Sunday, August 11th, 1946, in Indianapolis, IN, the son of William Anderson and Sophia (Panus) Anderson. He married Velda Camden in 1974, and she preceded him in death in 2009.
Thomas is survived by his loving family, including his sister, Elaine Jacobs and Eric of Freeburg, IL, brother, William Anderson and Cathy of Belleville, sister and brother-in-law, Lindell and Donna McMillian of Hoyleton nieces and nephews, Christopher McMillan and Shay of Kentucky, William Anderson and Sarah of Columbia, MO, Kyle Anderson of Belleville, Kinzi Anderson of Belleville, and Andrew Anderson of Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Anderson; his mother, Sophia Anderson; his beloved spouse, Velda Anderson; his brother, Joseph McMahon; and a niece, Alaina Jacobs.
Thomas was a man of strength and humility who served his country with honor in the United States Navy. Thomas was deeply passionate about reading, especially military history, finding solace and knowledge in literature.
Private family burial will be held at a later date in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia. In lieu of flowers, Thomas’s family requests memorial donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home, located at 235 North Sycamore Street, Centralia, Illinois 62801, which is honored to be of service to the family. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and through the funeral home’s Facebook page.
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