Ellen Y. Sanders

Ellen Youngberg Sanders, 94, peacefully passed away on Saturday, May 2. Ellen, born in San Diego, was a life-long resident of San Diego County. The family moved between their homes in San Diego and El Cajon, before settling permanently on their chicken ranch in El Cajon in 1927. Ellen attended El Cajon Valley Grammar School and Grossmont High School. She also attended San Diego State College where she took numerous and varied art courses, and was a member of their Art Guild. She sang in many choirs including the Red Robed Choir at Grossmont HS, the Girl’s Service Organization’s Girl’s Choir, and the San Diego Community Choir. She worked for several years at the Cuyamaca State Bank in El Cajon, until she married in 1950. She, with her husband Eric, and step-daughter Beverly Jean settled in La Mesa in 1951.

She was active in her children’s Scout groups and PTA. She was a lifetime member of the Foothills Art Association and the Art Martyrs. She dabbled in all forms of art and crafts, and was an accomplished watercolorist. Gardening, animals, traveling and photography were also hobbies which gave her great pleasure. She had a great sense of adventure and fun, and her family will greatly miss her laugh, sense of humor and unique outlook on life.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Frederic “Eric” Sanders, parents Frederick and Mary Youngberg, brother Clifford Youngberg, and sister Dorothy Lonngren. She is survived by her son Paul Sanders (Erin) of Robbinsville, NJ; daughters Beverly Sharp (Sam) of Pinedale, WY and Janice Weeks (Derrik) of Asheville, NC, and grandchildren David and Laura Sanders.