Douglas Michael Saunders

Douglas grew up in Dayton, Ohio, on his grandmother's farm. He began working for an old German butcher when he was 14 years old at a slaughterhouse. He learned how to do many skills related to that profession there. He began working for Freedom Foods in the late 1960's as a journeyman meat cutter. He was working in one of their stores in Richmond, Indiana, where he met the love of his life, Treva Elizabeth Hayden.

In April of 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was a military police officer, in the 615th Military Police Company, "The Bloodhounds," a unit within the 18th Military Police Brigade. He was stationed in Long Binh, Vietnam. He escorted Johnny Cash and June Carter when they came to entertain the troops during that time. In October of 1969 his tour was over and he came back home. He returned to his job at Freedom Foods, and he married Treva Hayden on November 9, 1969. In 1971, they purchased their house in Trenton, Ohio, where they started their family, consisting of 3 boys. He enjoyed making framed stained glass pictures as a hobby, which he was very gifted at making. He also enjoyed woodworking, and did many of his own renovations to his house. He enjoyed traveling, and he would visit with his dear friend, Dien, in France, that he knew from Vietnam. Dien escaped the Viet Cong with his wife and daughter and fled Vietnam. He also enjoyed traveling to visit his beloved sister, Sharon (Saunders) Elliott, in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He frequently traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee with his wife and children. In addition to his parents,

Douglas, is preceded in death by his sister, Sharon (Saunders) Elliott, his wife, Treva (Hayden) Saunders, and his second-born son, Andrew Douglas Saunders.

Douglas is survived by his children, Douglas Micheal Saunders II and his fiancée, Julie Burgess, Jonathan Albert Saunders and his wife, Rudylyn Saunders; five grandchildren, Tristian Saunders, Keira Saunders, Brooke Saunders, Trent Saunders, and Ashton Saunders.

Visitation will be 10:00 am-11:00 am on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Breitenbach Anderson Funeral Home, 517 South Sutphin Street, Middletown, Ohio 45044. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Miltonville Cemetery.