Saundra Salem

Saundra “Sunny” Schlothauer Salem, passed away on September 5, 2024 in Porter Texas. Sunny Salem, a loving mother, sister and wife was born in Brush Colorado on August 29, 1935, to a Rancher/Farmer, Henry Schlothauer and Gayle Schlothauer. When she was about 7 years old Henry moved the family to Las Cruces New Mexico where Henry raised cattle and farmed. As a young lady growing up in the Mesilla Valley, she helped her father with the cattle and farmland. That included feeding, branding, loading cattle, riding horses to help with roundups and driving tractors to plow fields and gather crops. She attended Arizona State for her college degree and along the way served as New Mexico State Fair Queen, was actively involved in several social clubs in High School and College.

She married Anthony Fred Salem in El Paso, Texas in 1962 and raised their two children in the El Paso and Canutillo, Texas area.

Sunny is preceded in death by her loving husband Fred. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Henry and Cyndi Salem; her daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Rick Steinbeck; her brother, Gary Schlothauer; her seven grandchildren, Candice Frankum, Madison Riek, Reagan Salem, Desiree Redden, Amber Lewis, Meagan Ellis, Sarah Hayes; and six great grandchildren.

Anthony “Fred” Salem

Fred was born in Bisbee Arizona in 1921 to Lebanese immigrant parents and soon after moved to El Paso, Texas to help run the family restaurant. Fred played football at the Texas College of Mines (UTEP) from 1940 to 41 then signed up for the Army Air Corps during World War II. He successfully completed 33 missions as a B17 bombardier (something that was unheard of in that era). Upon returning to El Paso, Fred continued his college and football career earning little All American and being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1947. Fred preceded Sunny in death after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

A funeral service for Saundra will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX 77339. Following the funeral service will be a committal service at 1:15 PM for both Sunny and Fred at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038.