Robert P. Saunders Jr.

Robert P. Saunders, Jr., "Skip," passed away peacefully on October 20th, with his beloved wife of 37 years, Alice, and his daughter Sara by his side. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a caring grandfather, a man of deep faith, and a loyal friend who touched the lives of all who knew him.

Skip was born on June 2, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Frances and Robert P. Saunders, Sr. His childhood was one of adventure, as his family moved from Nevada, where his brother Stephen was born, to Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and eventually back to Atlanta.

Known as “Bobby” in high school, Skip graduated from Northside High School in 1959 and later earned a Bachelor of Science from Emory University in 1963. He was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, where he formed lifelong friendships and cherished memories.

After graduating, Skip moved to Boston to work at John C. Paige and Company, selling insurance. It was there he met his first wife, Ree, with whom he had two children, Sara and Preston. They soon returned to Atlanta, where Skip joined his father at Robert P. Saunders and Company selling instrumentation.

Skip was a hands-on father and grandfather, finding joy in activities with his children and grandchildren. He affectionately called Sara “Honey Pot” and loved hiking with her and her brother. He took great pride in coaching Preston’s Buckhead Baseball team, the Pirates. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Buckhead Rotary Club, serving as president from 1977 to 1978.

His family enjoyed summers on Cape Cod where he met with old friends from Boston and Rhode Island.

His enthusiasm for outdoor activities and adventure was contagious, and he even indulged Sara and Preston by letting them bring home horseshoe crabs from the Cape.

Skip loved to ride his bicycle. He got involved with the Southern Bicycle league and rode all over Atlanta and again made long lasting friends. He got everyone involved in biking, including Alice, whom he convinced to ride across Georgia in the BRAG tour.

In 1987, Skip married Alice, the love of his life, and gained a daughter, Amy, whom he cherished as his own. Together, they started a prayer group at the Cathedral of St. Philip, where Skip often played guitar for services. Later, they joined Christ Church of Atlanta Anglican, where he continued his dedication to faith, playing guitar for the children at Vacation Bible School and remaining active in prayer groups.

As his children married, Skip was thrilled to welcome new family members: Amy’s husband, John G.; Sara’s husband, John M.; and Preston’s wife, Leigh. His greatest joy was spending time with family, especially at the lake, where he was happiest surrounded by his grandchildren, Rachel, Jack, Emma, Grayson, Alexander, and Peyton. The family cabin was never too full for Skip, who took pride in the joyful chaos of fitting everyone into the little blue cabin.

A man of many passions, Skip loved to dance, play chess, and strum his guitar. He was also an avid boater and a long-standing member of the Allatoona Yacht Club, which his parents had joined in 1958. Skip began teaching kids from Sutton and North Fulton to water ski behind the Franbo, a 24-foot Chris Craft named after his parents. Skiing behind the Franbo, with its big wake, was a badge of honor—if you could ski behind the Franbo, you could ski anywhere and he loved the hum of a boat engine.

Skip’s infectious sense of humor brought joy to those around him, whether it was making people laugh with his novelty socks (especially the ones with hamburgers, his favorite meal) or telling stories over popcorn in a paper bag during family slideshows.

A loyal friend to many, Skip kept up with his KA fraternity brothers and loved meeting with his Band of Brothers friends.

Skip leaves behind a family that loved him dearly and will miss him terribly.

His parents, Frances and Robert, precede Skip in death.

He is survived by his wife, Alice; his children, Amy (John G.), Sara (John M.), and Preston (Leigh); his grandchildren, Rachel (James), Jack, Emma, Grayson, Peyton, and Alexander; his great-granddaughter, Mika; and his brother, Stephen (Deborah).

Rest with Jesus Daddy Skip.

A service for Skip will be Sunday, November 3 at 1pm at the Atlanta International School, 2890 N. Fulton Drive, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305 which is the current location for services of Christ Church Of Atlanta Anglican. This is the congregation that Skip and Alice have actively attended for many years. There will be a reception following the service. A private family burial will follow on November 4 at Arlington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ Church Atlanta Anglican Building Fund. Donations can be made on the following website: https://christchurchatl.org/participate/donate/