Martin R. Sanders' Obituary
Martin Russell Sanders, son of Martin Harrison and Laura Ellen Schmutz Sanders, was born April 5, 1918, near Mayview, Missouri. He departed this life Wednesday, January 18, 2006, in St. John’s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years, nine months, and thirteen days. On August 10, 1947, he was united in marriage to Olive June Coffey, and to this union two sons were born. His parents, and a brother, Armin Sanders, preceded him in death. Martin is survived by his loving wife of fifty-eight years, Olive, of the home; two sons, Martin E. “Marty” Sanders, and his wife, Corazon D., of Hillsborough, California, and Larry R. Sanders, of Columbia, Missouri; a granddaughter, Laura C. Sanders; a brother, Sam Sanders, of Higginsville, Missouri; two sisters, Emma Tebbenkamp, and her husband, Calvin, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Dorothy Wells, of Wichita, Kansas; a sister-in-law, Gladys Sanders, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. He was born and raised in the Mayview and Higginsville, Missouri area and graduated from Mayview High School. He then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army National Guard and then in the United States Army from November 13, 1939 until October 21, 1945. During World War II, he spent two years in California with the Western Defense Command, took part in the Invasion of Normandy, the Central European Theater Campaign, and the occupation of Austria. After he and Olive were married, they made their home in Lebanon and lovingly raised their sons. Martin worked as the area supervisor for the Farmers Home Administration for a number of years, retiring in 1983. For seven years, he taught veterans with on-the-farm training. Martin was a longtime active member of First Christian Church in Lebanon, where he was a member of the Joy Sunday School Class. Through the years, he had also served as a Deacon and Elder and was currently an Elder Emeritus. He was a longtime proud member of the Lebanon Rotary Club and had been named a Paul Harris Fellow. While his sons were young, he coached Little League Baseball for several years. He liked watching athletics, was always interested in civic projects, and was an avid reader. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his granddaughter. Martin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he made for his family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2006, in the First Christian Church, Lebanon. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Memorials to the First Christian Church or the Lebanon Rotary Club may be made through the funeral home.
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