Clara Frances Sanders

Clara Frances Carroll Sanders, 96, of Ventura, California passed away surrounded by the love of dear family and friends, on Thursday, May 26, 2011. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ventura, with interment following at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Covina hills, where she will be with her beloved husband, Dr. Wallace McIlvain Sanders.

Frances was born October 19, 1914 in Kansas City, Missouri, to frank Daniel Carroll, (of Lincoln, Nebraska), and Clara Eleanor McGhee Carroll, (of Seneca, Kansas). She graduated with an Associate’s Degree from Kansas City Community College. She also earned certifications from the Maude E. Frank Secretarial School, where she learned a unique form of shorthand, allowing her to gain Top Secret clearance in the legal department at General Dynamics Corporation in San Diego during WW II. She later became the top Administrative Assistant to the Division Manager at General Dynamics, and worked there for many year, until her retirement.

Frances was an active 57-year “Life Member” of the Order of the Eastern Star, Star of Claremont, Chapter #110, holding various offices over many years. She enjoyed playing her Hammond organ, playing bridge with dear friends, dancing with her husband Wally, and traveling with family and friends. Among her favorite destinations were Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and of course, Las Vegas.

Frances Sanders devoted her life to helping others. Her selfless love flowed from her heart like a river of kindness enveloping all around her – her daughter, Joan, son-in-law Perry, granddaughter Jenny, and great-grandchildren Aaron and Amanda were blessed to have such a beautiful presence in their lives. After raising her first family, she met and married her loving husband of nearly 20 years, Dr. Wallace McIlvain Sanders. Her surviving step-children Walter and Pamela, fondly recall their new mother investing time, great talents and devotion to lifting them from a tragic divorce to a cohesive, functioning and loving family. Through Frannie’s love, two families became one, and have remained as one to this day. Those she touched learned to live their lives using her template of integrity. With advancing age – wisdom, insight and kindness were the attributes her family and friends all remember of her. Her steadfast advice was that the power of positive thinking and a love of God were the golden keys to a successful life.

Frances was preceded in death by her first husband, Van Clarence Sowers, her brother Frank Daniel Carroll, Jr., Her sister Edith Eleanor Carroll Gardner, and sister Ethel Ellen Carroll.

She is survived by her daughter Joan Carol Owen (Perry), step children Walter Alfred Sanders (Ellen) and Pamela Jean Sanders Makino (Robert), whom she loved dearly as her own; grandchildren Jenny Owen Wasil, Michael and Douglas Makino, Emily and Melissa Sanders, and great-grandchildren Aaron and Amanda Wasil.

The family would like to personally thank Dr. Stanley Frochtzwajg and his staff for their tender, compassionate and loving care for the past 30 years. There are none better, and we’re forever grateful. We would also like to thank the hard-working, kind, professional and loving caregivers at Victoria Care Center where Frances lived for the past seven years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 3160 Geneva St., Los Angeles, CA 90020 (Attention: Terry Cunningham, Administrator), or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.