Mathew William Saunders

Mathew W. “Matt” Saunders, age 84, of Dallas, passed peacefully into the arms of God Monday, January 23, 2017. Matt was born in Denver, Co. October 17, 1932, the 4th child of Compton and Gladys Saunders. Matt is survived by sons Mathew Jr of Plano, TX, Mark Saunders of Kansas City, KS and their wives Sheri and Tiina and grandchildren Summer, Kristen, Erin and Grant Saunders. He was predeceased by his wife Shirley, brother Compton “Jack” Saunders and his sisters Mary Ostrom and June Haynes. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends both in America and around the world.

After graduating from Hanford High School in 1950, Matt joined the U. S. Coast Guard at the beginning of the Korean War, serving three years in the North Atlantic on the USCG Cutter Campbell. The Campbell accompanied the cadet training sailing ship "Eagle" on their annual cadet exercises, including stops in Europe. This he said, was the spark that ignited his passion for Foreign Service.

After discharge he met and married Shirley Cooper, the love of his life for 59 years, entered the University of Southern California where he was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon fraternity and began his career with the Standard Oil Company of California Upon graduating from USC with a BS degree in foreign relations, he continued working for Standard Oil Company (now Chevron) and transferred to Caltex Petroleum Corp (a Chevron affiliate) in 1962.

Matt and his family lived in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. He served as Chairman of the International school in Thailand, and was also active in the chamber of commerce in all the countries he lived in. In 1979 he was reassigned to Caltex headquarters in Manhattan, N.Y. as executive assistant to the Chairman of the board. Matt was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 1981 and was assigned the responsibility of relocating Caltex headquarters from New York to Dallas, which was successfully completed in 1982 moving 850 employees and their families. Over the next 15 years his responsibilities included several companies in Asia, Australasia, and Africa. He retired in 1996 as Senior Vice president of Caltex in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was also a founding member of The Las Colinas Sports Club, and continued to travel extensively, often with Shirley until she sadly passed away in 2015.

Matt spent his final years enjoying his family, especially his grandchildren, and the many friends made over his lifetime. He often said that he had enjoyed a wonderfully rich and fulfilling life; one he could only have imagined as a boy. His spirit for life, his passion for knowledge and his love for his family will be forever missed. His memory will be cherished by all that knew him.

Matt will be interred in a private ceremony at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery with his wife Shirley. A memorial service in his memory will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2017, 2:00 PM at Sparkman Hillcrest. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association.