Robert S. Sanders Jr.

Bob was the second oldest of nine children and took an active part in taking care of his brothers and sisters. He graduated from Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon in 1961 and moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he began his long career with American Airlines. Bob loved the Lord with all his heart and trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age. He also was ordained asa Minister in 1974 at The People's Church in Cleveland Ohio, under the leadership of Reverend Jonathan Ealy.

While at American Airlines, he formed many life-long friendships with his airline co-workers andattended seminary. It was also there that he met and married Frances Jean Terry in 1967. They had three children, Lonnie, Lawnae and Robby and lived in Cleveland until 1978, when they moved to Houston. He divorced in 1984 and married Debby Vinson in 1985. Their daughter Ashley was born 1992.

Bob remained a Crew Chief with American Airlines in Houston until his retirement in 2003. His joys in life were church, his family and playing softball. Through the years he pitched for many teams with co-workers and friends. He had a gift of being able to talk to anyone, and he used that gift everywhere he went to reach out to people. He truly never met a stranger. After retirement, he enjoyed mission trips to Mexico where he experienced the joy of ministering and sharing all of the things God had done in his life.

Bob was blessed with the ability to see his children successfully grow into adulthood. He was further blessed to enjoy his grandchildren before his debilitating illness.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Marie and Robert Sanders, Sr., brother, Freddie Sanders and sister, Rosa Marie Thomas and Bettye Sanderlin.

He is survived by his children, Lonnie Sanders of Austin, TX, Lawnae Sanders of Spring, TX, Rob Sanders and his wife Mandy of Jacksonville, FL and Ashley Sanders of The Woodlands, TX; grandchildren, Marcus Wren, Alanna Wren, Derek Sanders, Robby Sanders and Trace Sanders, from Philadelphia, PA, brothers, Donald Sanders and wife Sharon, Wendall Sanders and wife Dana; sisters, Vernelle Williams and husband Walter, Pam Kantner and husband John, and Karen Bryant; brother-in-law John Sanderlin; and, many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the country.