LTC Wallace Brister Sanders

Visitation will be held at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, Parkway Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday, Dec. 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. with services in the chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 8th at 2 p.m.

Wallace was born in Louisville, MS on June 22, 1921. He attended Sunflower Junior College at Moorehead, MS and the University of Florida. At the onset of WW II he worked as an engineering draftsman for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in Tampa, FL where his duties included compiling aeronautical charts for the Allied Invasion of North Africa. He was drafted into the army at Camp Shelby, MS in June 1943 and served with the 65th Division through two major campaigns in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Remaining in Europe after cessation of hostilities, he served in the 9th and the 83rd divisions. Recalled to active duty during the Korean War, he served as commanding officer of Co. C 750 Tank Bn. Wallace was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with one Cluster, Army Commendation Medal (ACM) and the Eastern African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal with two Stars along with numerous other medals and commendations for meritorious service during wartime. In 1974, he retired with 37 years of service and attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In civilian life, Wallace “Pete” and family lived in Indianola and Greenville, MS. After moving to Jackson and following his retirement from the military he spent the next 25 years working for Sears and following his great passion, the honoring the service of others with the establishment of the MS Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby, MS. By 1988, Colonel Sanders and 9 other retired officers created the Armed Forces Museum Foundation serving as vice-president for the next 22 years to the time of his death. Colonel Sanders and Lieutenant General (Retired) Emmett H. Walker, Jr. successfully lobbied the MS legislature for $4.2 million to construct a state-of-the-art complex at Camp Shelby housing the museum offices and its increasing inventory. The newly completed museum was officially opened and dedicated in 2001.

In 2006, Wallace helped bring together families of Dutch Airmen who trained in Jackson during WW II culminating in an annual Memorial Day Celebration attended by these families as well as Embassy officials and military officials of Holland,in addition to Jackson dignitaries and friends.

He was a brother, husband, loving father, grandfather, exceptionally proud great grandfather and a loyal friend. He was a uniquely caring, loving and personally spiritual man who will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alma White Powell of Indianola, his father Andrew Pete Sanders of Greenville and his wife of 37 years Mattie (Pat) Adams Sanders.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kathleen Marie Sanders, his step-daughter Ann Breedlove (Johnny) and step-grandson Chase Brewer; three brothers: Andrew Pete Sanders, Jr. (Marsha) of Foley, AL, Skeet Sanders (Sue) and Jan Sanders (Susannah) of Greenville; three children: Sandy McNeal (John) of Jackson, Barbara Sanders (Nancy) of Flora and Wallace Brister Sanders, Jr. (Emily) of Brandon; two grand children: Adam Ingram Sanders and Rebecca Claire Sanders and great granddaughter Mila Blue Sanders.

Donations can be made in memory of LTC Wallace B. Sanders, Sr. to the MS Armed Forces Museum, Building 850, Camp Shelby, MS 39407. Online guestbook www.wrightferguson.com