Marion Willard Sanford

Marion W. “Pooch” Sanford, age 86 of Columbus, passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021. Pooch was born and raised in Columbus, son of the late Morris and Jeannette (Willard) Sanford. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Irene Sanford Smith, brother-in-law Guyon A. Smith II, nephew Guyon A. Smith III, and sister Carol Sanford. Pooch graduated from Grandview High School where he enjoyed playing football and was a member of the Grandview Rooks. Following high school, he went on to graduate from The Ohio State University where he was a member of SAE Fraternity. He was a life-long Ohio State Buckeye fan and active Alumni member of both OSU and his fraternity. Pooch was witty and humorous, and stayed active throughout his life. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army where he earned his pilot’s license. His professional career took him to Gates McDonald where Pooch retired after more than 30 years of dedicated service. He was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Treasurer. Pooch graduated from the Upper Arlington Citizen Police Academy, spent 38 years as a high school football referee, and was an active member of Central Ohio Football Officials Association (COFOA). He loved giving back to his community and volunteered at both The Schottenstein Center and The James Cancer Hospital. He was a Kentucky Colonel, a member of the Masonic Lodge and Aladdin Shrine. He was a member of Rockwell Springs Trout Club where he enjoyed fly fishing. He had a love for Boston Terriers and adopted several Bostons over the course of his life. He was a dedicated family man, loved to travel, and lived his life to the fullest - always with the love of his life, his wife of 64 years, by his side. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Joan Sanford; children, Ann (David) Douglas and James (Marcie) Sanford; grandchildren, Sarah (Ryan) Reynolds, Rebecca Douglas, Thomas Douglas, and Melissa Sanford; 6 nieces and nephews, and many other extended family members and dear friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue at www.midwestbtrescue.org or The Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research benefiting The Ohio State James Cancer Hospital at www.giveto.osu.edu .