Frank Henry Sanders

Frank Henry Sanders departed this life on November 24, 2006 to join his beloved wife Julia North Sanders who passed away January 27, 2006. He is survived by his daughter Laura Sanders Fowler, his granddaughter Julia Marion Fowler and son-in-law Robert Penn Fowler. Frank died in Austin Texas with his family at his bedside in his home. Frank was born in 1915 in Pembroke North Carolina but moved shortly thereafter to Trilby Florida when his father assumed a position as Trilby railroad master. Frank attended the Pasco County Schools where he met his childhood and highschool sweetheart Julia Lenora North who he married in 1935. Frank graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in business and a minor in divinity in 1938. Frank immediately acquired a position with the Atlantic Seaboard Coastline and thereafter moved with the railroad many times throughout his forty years of employment. In each community to which he was transferred he became active in church and civic activities, holding positions such as Methodist lay leader and President in the Kiwanis Club. One distinguishing feature of Frank's performance in these positions was that in a still largely segregated South, Frank was most insistent that persons of color be allowed to participate fully, a bold even dangerous thing to suggest in the early days of integration in the Deep South. Food drives and household goods went to all the needy and anyone who wished to worship was encouraged to do so regardless of race when Frank had anything to do with it. Frank had a humourously insistent way of accomplishing all this that amazed his friends and opponents. While some mistook Frank's belief system as overeducated or leftward leaning, those who knew Frank well realized that his spiritual beliefs were what propelled him. Frank embraced the principle that "Love Thy Neighbor" really meant it! Despite enormous professional demands, Frank found time to travel long distances on Sundays to the poor and rural parts of North Florida to preach to small Methodist congregations that had no permanently assigned minister. Frank was courteous and fair to all with whom he had dealings both in business and in his personal life. While some saw this as merely the polite behavior of a Southern gentleman, it was in fact Frank's most ardent expression of true faith. If one were to ask Frank what might be done in recognition of his passing, he would most likely answer in his softly accented yet terribly earnest way; "I don't much like flowers. They always make me sneeze. But as Christmastime approaches, there are so many in need. Think of others less fortunate than yourself and give generously to your charities and your church, in God's name." Obituary and guestbook online at www.wcfish.com