NWA Capt. Sandra Lynn Allmon Anderson

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. Sandra Lynn Allmon Anderson

February 8, 1948 - April 25, 2026

 

Obituary and service arrangements are now available at the funeral home’s website:  https://www.griffin-roughton.com/obituaries/sandra-lynn-allmon-anderson/#!/Obituary

 Obituary  :  Captain Sandra Lynn Allmon Anderson was born in Houston, Texas on Feb. 8, 1948 to Bonnylin McBride and Willis O’Neal Allmon Jr.

Sandy passed away in Gun Barrel City, Tx on April 25, 2026.  She graduated from Lewisville, Texas in 1966 and was later inducted to their Hall of Fame.  She went on to TWU where she graduated in 1970 with a degree in Art Education and minors in music and physical education.  For the next two years she taught at La Marque Intermediate and during this time married Dick Anderson, a NASA Engineer and skydiver.

In 1975, Dick was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident.  By this time Sandy had changed her career goals and earned her private pilot’s license.  After acquiring a certificate in flight engineering and Airline Transport Pilot, in 1979, she was the second female hired by Northwest Orient Airline as a pilot. 

During her career, she advanced to Captain on multiple aircraft, including the Boeing 727, 757, and 747-400. In 1989, she became a B-727 Captain, and in 2000 she was promoted to Captain on the Boeing 747-400.

A true trailblazer, Sandy broke significant barriers for women in aviation. She became Northwest Airlines’ first female Captain Instructor/Check Pilot in 1992 and later selected as the first female amongst all the major U.S. passenger carrying airlines as a Fleet Check Captain in 1994 and then named Assistant Chief Pilot – Flight Manager. She was the first female to hold this position at NWA, or at any other major U.S. Airline.

She was a founding board member of Women in Aviation, International (WAI) and played a key role in establishing its Endowment Fund, helping create lasting scholarship and educational opportunities. Her contributions earned widespread recognition. Sandy received the Northwest Airlines Humanitarian Award, the Women in Aviation International “Bruce Baty Volunteer of the Year Award” (twice), the WAI Founders Award, and Texas Woman’s University’s Distinguished Alumna Award. She was inducted twice into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame and honored for her lifelong commitment to advancing women in aviation. 

In 1995 she earned her Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Organization Development from the American University in Washington, D.C.

She is survived by her sisters: Patricia Diane Allmon Gray of Denton and Sharla Allmon Johnson and her husband Jeff of Gun Barrel City.  Step Son Randy Anderson and grandson Russell Anderson both of Gainesville, Florida.  Niece and Nephew: Shelley Graney and husband Denny and Bradley Bain and wife Taryn. Great Niece and Nephews: Olivia Graney, Jack Graney, Kelyn Bain, Keaton Bain and Kyler Bain.

 

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WAI – Women in Aviation International.

Memorial Services will be held May 3rd from 1pm to 3pm for Visitation only at Griffon – Roughton Funeral home – Corsicana, Tx., and Monday May 4th at Griffon – Roughton Funeral Home will be another visitation at 12pm and service following at 1pm. Graveside services will be immediately after at Birdston Cemetery in Streetman, Texas.

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. Sandra Lynn Allmon Anderson

February 8, 1948 - April 25, 2026

 

Suzanne writes:  I am sending the sad news of the passing of Captain Sandy Anderson, who passed away today, April 25, 2026.

Sandy was the second female pilot hired at Northwest Airlines 10-15-1979 and she retired as a Boeing 747 Captain. 

 Sandy was very active in helping others to achieve their aviation goals. She was a member of The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots ( https://www.ninety-nines.org ), The International Society of Women Airline Pilots ( isa21.org ), and Women in Aviation ( https://www.wai.org/ ) where she was instrumental in establishing the endowment fund for that organization.  Should you choose to send a memorial donation in Sandy’s memory, she would have been honored to be remembered were you to keep in mind these organizations especially the Endowment Fund for Women in Aviation.

Sandy was a talented, gifted person in so many different areas: artistically, athletically, musically, in addition to her aviation skills.

She was always willing to serve and lend a helping hand where needed.

Sandy has suffered from dementia for the past five years and has been residing at The Lodge Assisted Living and Memory Care in Gun Barrel City, TX 75156. She has been in the care of her younger sister, Sharla Johnson. 

Condolences and additional information can be shared with Sharla at 350 Overlook Trail, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156, voicemail or text to (214) 801-8588. 

 Thank you,

Suzanne Skeeters

 

Funeral home website :

https://www.griffin-roughton.com/obituaries/sandra-lynn-allmon-anderson/#!/TributeWall

 

Details regarding services are still pending and will be advised.  The family would very much like to hear your memories and stories.  Please take a moment to share your thoughts either online at the funeral home site or at the family address c/o Sandy’s sister/caregiver Sharla.

 Thank you!

~ Carol for the PCN

PCN memorial site

 

Facebook : A tribute to Captain Sandy L. Anderson, Northwest Airlines Ret.

Sandy passed away yesterday and I had news early on and took some time to process it. Sandy was one of my distant role models. I first met her in 1991 when I was then known as Janet Andersen. I remembered her name because it was so close to mine. She was ironically the Captain on the Boeing 727 taking me from DTW to MCO where I was receiving a certificate for winning the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship from The Ninety-Nines.

 

I took it as a great sign and very good omen that I had a woman airline Captain flying me to the Woman Pilot Conference! I was able to sit in the cockpit of the 727. The pilots had been paid and that was back in the day the checks were printed and left in the mailboxes at work. So the First Officer and Flight Engineer were discussing their paychecks enroute and told me, “Go on, Janet, ask Sandy how much her pay check is…” Besides the huge paycheck, I was very happy to see Sandy was short like me.

 

Because WAI (women in aviation) was a budding organization, and one which Sandy supported since the beginning (I joined in 1995 even though I really couldn’t afford the dues and became member number 557) I was able to see Sandy become a check airman and then switch to the 747 and become a check airman there. In 2014 I spent time with her and Beverly Bass when I was invited to go see the ISA+21 archives at TWU (Texas Woman’s University). Over the years, whenever I saw Sandy at a WAI conference I always told her she was a role model to me. She was always a bit embarrassed and I always had to tell her the story of the jumpseat on the NWA 727. When I heard she had dementia and was asked to take over her position in ISA as the archivist, I was not surprised; her memory loss seemed to me to be going on for years, but I never minded telling her the story of how we met.

 

Her jumpseat was one of the first ever I was allowed to take. I was flying for an FAR 121 carrier and had specific authorization to be on the flight deck at Northwest Airlines. I will never forget Sandy and my inspirational flight with her in command. RIP Sandy. I was glad I met you.