10-3-12 —     Oct. 24, 1940‹Sept. 23, 2012

    Dillard Anderson, age 71 of Monticello, Ky. passed away Sunday, September 23, 2012 at his home after a several month battle with cancer.

    He was born October 24, 1940 in Wayne County, Ky., the son of the late Virgil Anderson and Mabel (Troxell) Anderson.

    He was saved and baptized in the Little South Fork River by the church his father had built at Greenford on December 14, 1952.

    He was married to his beloved wife‹Brenda Anderson (Buller), who survives. He was blessed to have eight children, daughters‹Gloria Lewis, Robin Anderson, Emma Lydia Defranceschi, Stephanie McCoy, of Benton, Ky., Leanne Payton of Ft. Worth, Texas and sons‹Auston Anderson, of Benton, Ky.

and Jason Anderson, of Hebron, Ky.

    His son Eric Anderson, of Benton, Ky. preceded him in death in 2008.

    He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters‹Lozena Khulman and Annabelle Braden, both of Monticello, Ky.; and brothers‹Willard Anderson, of Monticello and  Paul David Anderson, of Oneida, Tenn.,  and several nieces, nephews and numerous friends who mourn his passing.

    He was preceded in death by his brother‹Herschel Anderson; and a sister‹Ina Koger.

    He was a nationally renown guitarist who had played guitar, banjo and steel with many known artists in the northern, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio area,  as well as across the country. His music is in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. as well as the Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame in Nashville.

    After his retirement as a truck driver for Ryder PIE he returned to Monticello, from Ludlow, Ky. His last music performances were in Whitley City, Ky. where he entertained for the last six years.

    Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Mark Sewell officiating. Burial was in the Elk Spring Cemetery.

    Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.