GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Wayne County is remembering one of its most influential civic leaders following the death of former County Commissioner Wilbur “Andy” Anderson, whose decades of public service helped shape transportation, economic development, and veterans’ services across eastern North Carolina.
Anderson passed away June 18, 2026, in Smithfield, Virginia. He was 90.
A decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, accomplished pilot, businessman, and longtime public servant, Anderson leaves behind a legacy that stretches from the skies over Vietnam to major infrastructure projects that continue to benefit Wayne County today.
Born in Tarboro, Anderson graduated from North Carolina State University in 1957 with a degree in Geological Engineering. Before beginning his military career, he worked in the mineral mines of British Columbia, Canada, where he met the family of his future wife, Martha Dawn Peck. The couple later married and shared 60 years together.
Anderson served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, flying F-4 and B-52 aircraft. During the Vietnam War, he flew more than 233 combat missions and accumulated more than 8,000 flight hours. His distinguished military career included receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross after assisting in the downing of two enemy MiG aircraft.
His passion for aviation continued after military retirement. Anderson founded several flying and soaring clubs in the United States, Europe, and Asia and held commercial and instructor ratings in multiple aircraft. In 1984, he founded Dawn Air, Inc., a scheduled airline based in Manteo that provided passenger service between the Outer Banks, Norfolk, Virginia, and other communities along the Atlantic coast.
In Wayne County, Anderson may be best remembered for his relentless efforts to improve regional transportation. In 1986, he founded the Wayne-Wilson Highway 117 Association, raising more than $50,000 for a feasibility study that ultimately helped return U.S. 117 to the federal highway system. His vision became reality two decades later with the opening of Interstate 795, connecting Goldsboro and Wilson.
He also spearheaded efforts to bring a 12-inch water pipeline to the Goldsboro-Wayne County Airport, a project that helped position the airport for future industrial and economic development.
Anderson made history in November 1992 when he became the first Republican elected to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners since Reconstruction in the late 1800s. He served on the board for 19 years and also held positions on the Wayne County Health Board, Social Services Board, Airport Authority, Appointment Committee, and the North Carolina Eastern Regional Development Board.
His commitment to veterans extended beyond his own military service. Recognizing the need for a state veterans cemetery in eastern North Carolina, Anderson purchased and donated 11 acres of land in Elroy to the North Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs. That gift led to the creation of the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, which continues to serve veterans and their families throughout the region.
Family members said Anderson approached life with humility and curiosity, describing him as “a good ole country boy at heart” who enjoyed meaningful conversations and worked to leave his community better than he found it.
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