CMSGT David Lee Sanders, Retired U.S. Air Force, age 68, passed away March 6, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on August 8, 1951 in Raleigh, North Carolina to Oliver and Jeannette (Dobbins) Sanders. He retired from the United States Air Force after 30 years of dedicated service to our country. He then went on to serve another 12 years with the United States Government Civil Service as a GS-13 and retired in San Antonio, Texas. While Stationed in Ankara, Turkey from 2003-2009 David Lee Sanders was a liaison between the Turkish and American government during the war for Iraqi freedom. He was the first to create relationships between high ranking government officials from both nationalities and consistently negotiated terms to allow for oil and other goods to be transported between the borders. David received multiple honors and awards for his ability to use his Turkish language and interpersonal skills during a high tension and high-pressure period of time. David loved to spend time with his family and was an avid movie lover; cowboy movies and comedies were his favorite.
During his military career his assignments were: Charleston, SC, Dover, Delaware, Yokota AFB, Japan, San Bernardino, CA, Anderson AFB, Guam three times, Little Rock AFB, AR, Incirlik AFB, Turkey three different times and Warner Robbins, AFB, GA,. David also served in a temporary duty station (TDY) status to the Philippines, Thailand and Guam multiple times. David was a lifetime student of the world which was evidenced by him being fluent in the Turkish and Japanese languages.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Suzan Sanders; children, David Lee Sanders Jr., Isaiah Benjamin Sanders and his wife Maria Sanders, Naile Sanders Arias and her husband John Arias; grandchildren, Darius Sanders, D.J. Sanders, Eileen Sanders and Tatiana Sanders; brothers, Swade Sanders, Charles Sanders, Floyd Sanders, William Sanders, Earl Sanders, Hunter Sanders, Robert Sanders, Jerry Sanders. Funeral service will be celebrated at 12:30 P.M. Thursday, March 19, 2020 at the True Vine Baptist Church, 435 S. Ellison Drive, 78245 with a private interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with U.S. Air Force honors.
