“Helen” was born 11/4/1938 to her parents, Silas Baker Ethridge and Allie Irene Sloan Ethridge where she initially grew up on their farm near La Mesa, New Mexico. She was one of four children; sisters Betty and Clara, and her older brother Jim. At a young age, her family moved to Fabens, Texas where she attended school and graduated valedictorian from Fabens High School.
After graduation, she attended Texas Tech University where she studied elementary education, was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, a member of the “Goin Band from Raiderland”, and was honored as the “Rio Valle Cotton Queen” in 1957. While at Texas Tech, Helen dated and later married Delbert Alvin Sanders on January 31, 1959. They immediately began Delbert’s service to the Air Force in New York and Houston, where they started their family with daughter Sheryl and son Steven. They later settled in Lubbock in 1965 where Helen enjoyed raising her family and participating in years of school activities, along with athletic and social events with her children.
Helen was a very dedicated and loving wife, mother and friend to many. She was an active member of Shepherd King Lutheran Church, Saint Mary of the Plains Hospital Auxiliary volunteer, annual participant and judge at the Panhandle South Plains Fair Women’s Building, and spent countless hours with a variety of other community services.
Through the years of her life, Helen most valued and enjoyed the many personal relationships she developed through her church and several organizations she participated in. These relationships allowed her to give to others but also gave her support during difficult and challenging events, such as the passing of her daughter, Sheryl, in 2015. Soon after, Helen and Delbert moved from their longtime home in Lubbock to Southlake, TX to be closer to their son, Steve, and his family. Through the later years of her life, she developed chronic illness and has now passed to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mary Helen Sanders is survived by her loving husband, Delbert Sanders, her son Steven Sanders, her daughter-in-law Carrie Sanders, her granddaughters Julia and
Natalie Sanders, her grandson Ryan Atwood, and several nieces and nephews and their children.
