Thelma Anderson
June 9, 2025 – Sept. 4, 2025
Thelma Christine Anderson, 100, passed away peacefully on Sept. 4, 2025, in Loudon, Tenn.
Born June 9, 1925, in Brattleboro, Vt., Thelma was raised there before moving to Anaheim, Calif., in 1960.
Known affectionately as “Irish,” she was cherished for her joyful spirit and always maintaining a positive outlook on life. Irish loved decorating cakes and sewing.
Irish demonstrated a friendly and diligent work ethic throughout her life. She worked in customer service for the City of Anaheim from 1963 to 1982, earning numerous awards for her dedication.
She later relocated with her husband to Sweet Home, where they owned and operated the Sweet Home Laundromat. They also added an auto mechanic shop behind the laundromat.
For approximately 20 years, from 1977 until 1995, under the Andersons’ ownership, the laundromat was a staple of the Sweet Home business district.
Later, Irish also worked in patient registration at Lebanon Hospital, before they returned to live in California in 1996.
Most recently, Irish moved to Loudon, Tenn., to be near her daughter Kathleen Johnson and son-in-law Tom Johnson. There, she embraced life with enthusiasm — dancing on Friday nights, attending concerts, and joining her daughter’s wine and game groups. She loved family time, travel, dance, and music.
The community in Tennessee warmly embraced her, providing a cherished new circle of friends, family, and fun.
Twice widowed, Thelma’s first husband, Robert W. Sumner, whom she was married to for 24 years, was a World War II veteran. Her late husband, Robert L. Anderson (born and raised in Sweet Home), also served in the military; they were married for 38 years.
Thelma supported the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Diabetes Association.
Thelma embraced life and had three children: Wesley Sumner, who died in 2022, and two surviving daughters, Kathleen Johnson and Christine Nolan; two stepsons, Robert Anderson Jr. and Kevin aka Guy Anderson; six grandchildren, Cherelle Champfleur, Shealin Johnson-Conway, Timothy Johnson, Tina McCosker, Teri Mille, and Trevor Sumner; and four great-great grandchildren.
Her legacy of love, positivity, and joy will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life was held Nov. 15, 2025, at the church in Hinsdale, N.H., where her grandson is pastor.