Hans W. Wanders

1925 - 2018

Hans W. Wanders , 93, died on August 15, 2018 in Winston-Salem, NC. He was the son of Anna Maria and Herbert Wanders and was born in Aachen, Germany. He moved to Hingham, MA with his family in 1929 and attended schools in Hingham, graduating from Belmont Hill School, Yale University and The Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Wanders was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He entered the United States Navy in 1943 and retired as Lieutenant Senior Grade in 1953 having served at sea in the Pacific Theater in both conflicts. Later he resided in Winnetka, IL and was in management consulting and banking as Vice President of The Northern Trust Company, President of the National Boulevard Bank of Chicago and Publisher of the Chicago Magazine prior to joining Wachovia Bank in Winston-Salem, NC in 1970. There he served in numerous capacities including President of the Wachovia Corporation and Chairman of the Wachovia Bank and the Wachovia Corporation. Wanders was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Wanders was a Director or Trustee of numerous companies and civic organizations. He was a Director of the American Bankers Association and the Association of Bank Holding Companies. He served as Chair of the Winston-Salem Foundation Committee, the North Carolina Board of Economic Development and The Tax Foundation. He also was the Vice Chairman of the Grace Commission and a Director of Salem Academy and College and The Committee for Economic Development. He served on the Board of Visitors of The Fuqua School of Business of Duke University. Married in 1949, Wanders was preceded in death by his spouse, Elizabeth Kimball Wanders, and is survived by two sons, Crayton Kimball of Carrboro, NC and David Gillette (Kristin) of Mount Pleasant, SC. He leaves two grandchildren, Elizabeth Moore and Graham Wanders and a great-granddaughter, Milly Moore. A private burial will be held and there will be no memorial service at the deceased's request. Online condolences may be made at www.salemfh.com.