Willie T. Sanders

Willie T. Sanders, Jr., age 91, passed away on August 24, 2022 after a brief illness. The longtime resident of Merritt Island, Florida was born in Dossville, Mississippi in 1930, where he lived and worked on the family farm.

He is predeceased by his parents, W.T. Sanders, Sr. and Zelma Cagle Sanders, brother, Roger D. Sanders, and wife, Yoshie Ishikawa Sanders. Willie was a 1948 graduate of Barnes High School in Mississippi where he excelled in academics and athletics. A four-year stint in the US Air Force was highlighted by a tour of duty in Japan, where he met his future wife, Yoshie. Upon returning to the United States, he completed his B.S. degree in Mathematics in 1956 at the University of Southern Mississippi. Shortly thereafter, he began his distinguished career with General Electric in Huntsville, AL, followed by joining Honeywell Corporation in Rockville, MD, and continuing as a project director with Honeywell at NASA, Cape Canaveral, where he worked until his retirement in 1990.

Willie enjoyed a quiet life at his Merritt Island home, riding his bike in the neighborhood, and playing an occasional round of golf with his buddies. He is survived by two nephews, Michael Sanders of Highlands, NC and Keith Sanders (Deanna) of Cordova, TN and two nieces, Regina Clasgens (Chris) of Nashville, TN and Junko Ishikawa of Tokyo, Japan. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Virginia Sanders of Carthage, MS and Takako Takamizu of Tokyo, Japan as well as great nieces and nephews, Regan and Hayden (Jessica) Sanders and Jenny and David Clasgens.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Cedar Creek Assisted Living, Merritt Island, and the nurses and doctors of Cape Canaveral Hospital and Health First Hospice for their kindness and exceptional care.

A private graveside service and burial will be held at a later date at Florida Memorial Gardens.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Sanders family.