Kenneth Roy Sanders

Obituary and Life Story

Kenneth Roy Sanders, age 93, past from this life on Thursday, July 26, 2018. He died peacefully at home with his family in Fort Worth, Texas. He was born in Trousdale, Oklahoma to Roy and Ona Florence Sanders on May 16, 1925.

He left home early at about 15 years of age to find work in California. However, World War II interrupted his plans and he joined the Army to become one of the “Great Generation” War Veterans who fought to defend freedom in that conflict. He was wounded during the invasion of Leyte Island, Philippines in October 1944 and was sent back to the United States for recovery where, while serving as an MP in Fort Worth, Texas, he met and married Ruby Joyce Lawler in December 1945. They were happily married for 55 years until her death in 2000.

Mr. Sanders settled in Fort Worth and had a long career in production management at the aircraft production facilities at Carswell Air Force Base, retiring from General Dynamics in 1990 after 33 years of service. He also worked for many years at Hobbs Trailers on North Main and Blue Mound Road in Fort Worth. He served two years with General Dynamics Astronautics Division in 1960-63 at Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas where he was the Construction Superintendent in the Atlas Missile Silo Program during the infamous Cuban Missile Crisis.

Mr. Sanders and his family were members of Bethel Temple Church, Fort Worth where they had many friends and family. In recent years Mr. Sanders volunteered service at St. Paul Lutheran Church where he worked with the Bibles for the Blind Program. His invaluable service in the production of Braille Bibles will have a lasting effect on thousands of people. Being mechanically talented, he also volunteered service with “The Promise” in Glen Rose, Texas. He accompanied the cast and crew of that musical and theatrical production company to the Kremlin in Moscow in 1994. He helped with technical production and stage construction both in the Kremlin production as well as the home theater in Glen Rose.

Mr. Sanders had two sons, David and Stephen. Stephen past away recently, but Mr. Sanders is survived by his son David and daughter-in-law Judy and four grandchildren: Paul Sanders, Ami Hillman, Austin Sanders, and Kristin Cardwell; three step-grandchildren John Adams and his wife Tilusha of Kansas City, Kansas, Joel Adams and Holly Smith of Jamestown, North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews: Jerry Simeroth, Jim Mayberry, Barbara Conrad, Darrell Sanders, Rachelle Beighey, and Michia Henderson all of Oklahoma City; Sue Pounds of Lexington, Oklahoma, Sharon Combs of Rose Hill, Oklahoma, Voncille Conway of Ada, Oklahoma, and Sherry Singleton of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Tim Lawler and wife Ann, Brad and wife Ann Lawler, Karen Bird and husband Jerry of Fort Worth, Rhonda Norville and husband Mark of Blanco, Texas and Derald Keetch and wife, Sue of Fort Worth, Texas.

He was preceded in death by four sisters: Helene Carr of Oklahoma City, Denzil Mayberry, Lexington, Oklahoma, Alberta Haynes of Lexington, Oklahoma, Thelma Mooney of Ada, Oklahoma, and a brother, Wymon Sanders, Oklahoma City. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many.

Visitation: Monday, July 30, 2018 from 6pm to 8pm at Laurel Land Funeral Home.

Service: Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 3pm in Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes.

Interment to follow.