Wade White Saunders Sr.

Wade White Saunders Sr., 96, of 1276 Saunders Drive, Catawba, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House in Winston-Salem. Born in Iredell County on March 23, 1913, he was a son of the late Joseph Carlton Saunders and Rosa White Saunders. He was a retired captain in the U. S. Air Force, having served during World War II. He served in the 8th AF BG, 384th Bomb Group, 6th Squadron, stationed at Grafton Underwood, England, from 1943 to 1945. He received the Bronze Star in 1944. He later retired from Western Electric after 20 years. He was a member of Olivet Baptist Church. On July 11, 1941, he married the former Alice Elizabeth Kale, who died on June 8, 2005. Survivors include two sons, Carlton Saunders of Catawba and Wade W. Saunders Jr. of Brunswick, Ga., two daughters, Rosanna Mallon of Winston-Salem and Sherry Joyce and her husband, Drew, of Ruckersville, Va. Also surviving are two brothers, Harold K. Saunders of Winston-Salem and James H. Saunders of Catawba; a sister, Peggy Saunders Wilson of Catawba; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services celebrating Mr. Saunders' life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, at Olivet Baptist Church with Dr. John Marks officiating. He will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service while the family receives friends at the church. Condolences may be sent on-line to www.mem.com. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to Olivet Baptist Church, 7893 Monbo Road, Catawba, NC 28609. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.