Grover E. Sanders

Memorial services for Grover E. Sanders, 97, of Lawrence will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, at Presbyterian Manor. He passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Grover E. Sanders was born November 15, 1920, near Protection, KS. He was the son of Grover C. and Rebie (Wilburn) Sanders. In 1948, he married Betty Butts of Protection, both having served in WWII. After being stationed around the country, they moved to Wichita in 1956 and Lawrence in 1999. In addition to a career in the Navy, including service in the Pacific during WWII and as a recruiter for the reserves in Wichita, Grover worked as a B-52 mechanic at Boeing and as a substitute rural mail carrier.

Grover was exceptionally devoted to family, friends and his community. Whether it was serving as a school board member, church deacon, CASA volunteer, or hospital escort; furnishing supplies to the homeless shelter or other agencies helping those in need; creating a memorial fund for KUMC, a grief support group, or a WWII veterans’ group—whatever he was able to do, he believed service gives life meaning and helps compensate for the resources required to live a long life. His genuine interest in people, keen sense of humor, sagacious wisdom, eloquent expressions of faith, practical solutions, love of nature, and enthusiasm for life were among the qualities that made him widely appreciated and well-loved. Thank you to all whose friendship and care added to his enjoyment and quality of life.

Grover was preceded in death by his parents, wife, 4 siblings, and 1 grandchild. Survivors include his daughter, Sandra Sanders, and husband, Frank Hoffman, Lawrence; son, James Sanders, and wife, Ellen Ryan, Fairway, KS; daughter, Denise Sanders, and husband, Gary Zangerle, Marlton, NJ; brother, Glenn Sanders, Winona, MN; sister, Mary Schultz, Protection, KS; 6 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

The family will greet guests beginning at 10:00 and until 12:00 after the service. Internment with military honors will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. on June 16.

Memorial donations may be made in Grover’s name to the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor (LPM) Employee Scholarship Fund, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association, Lawrence Homeless Shelter, or the Betty Butts Sanders Memorial Fund at KU Endowment Association.