Tommy Lee Anderson's Obituary
A dear man, Tom Anderson, left our lives July 13, 2013 and he will be truly missed. He was a generous, fun loving man, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend that lived life to its fullest from coaching baseball, whitewater rafting down the Taos Box to running the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He never knew a stranger and if he had lived in the ‘old day’s’ he would have been the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Storyteller, for he was ever available with a story on just about any subject you could think of. Though he dearly loved his family and friends, he also had a passion for the company he built Trinity Trailer Sales and Service, Dallas, Texas and much to his delight was still actively involved in its operation to the end. Tom spent his leisure golfing, boating, and supporting his teams, University of Oklahoma Football and Texas Rangers Baseball. Tom Anderson was born July 9, 1932 to Vin A. and Wilma Vera (White) Anderson at their home in Choctaw, Oklahoma. He attended Choctaw public schools for most of his early education with parts of his Junior and Senior years in Vallejo High School in Vallejo, California. He graduated from Choctaw High School in 1950. Following 2 years of college at Blackwood Davis Business College in Oklahoma City, where he earned an Associate Degree in Accounting, Tom was employed by American Body and Trailer Manufacturing Company as a Cost Accountant. He met Joyce McDonald there and on August 21, 1953 they were married. They had one son, Tommy Craig, born in 1954. During his time in the trailer business in Oklahoma City, Tom was active in the National Association of Accountants, the Spencer Chamber of Commerce and other civic activities. In the 1960’s he attended night classes at the University of Oklahoma and in 1969 he earned a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. He rose to the level of General Manager at American Trailers and at one time was responsible for 300 employees of the manufacturing company’s Morgan Road plant. In 1972 American was acquired by Fleming Foods, Inc. and Tom relocated to Dallas, Texas and continued his career in the trailer business by opening his own semi-trailer dealership, Trinity Trailer Sales & Service, Inc. in 1975. Over the years, Trinity expanded to become one of the largest independent specialized semi-trailer dealership in the Southwest, winning multiple manufacturers Dealership of the Year awards and was the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas Business of the Year. Tom was active in the National Trailer Dealers Association, Texas Motor Transportation Association, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas and a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. In May of 1993, Tom met and married Linda Wells and expanded his family to include Linda’s daughters, Michelle Branham and Susan Arnold and of course, Barkley and Bentley his four-footed kids. He lived his life in his later years in Carrollton, Texas, watching his family expand to 4 granddaughters, 3 grandsons and 2 great grandchildren to date. Tom is survived by his older brother, Johnny Vin Anderson of Crescent, Oklahoma. We are so very thankful for the time we had with him; he will forever live on in our hearts and memories. Join us in celebration of his life at 2:30 pm, Thursday, July 18, Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas.
What’s your fondest memory of Tommy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Tommy?
Share a story where Tommy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Tommy you’ll never forget.
How did Tommy make you smile?