Tony Ray Landers

1924 - 2015

Tony Ray Landers
01/20/1924 - 08/07/2015


Born January 20, 1924 in Buckeye, Arizona passed away on August 7, 2015. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Hunsaker, his father Earnest Landers, Uncle Fred (his mentor) and his eldest daughter Sandra Jean Landers of Mountain View, Wyo. He is survived by his wife of 33 years Rose M. Landers of Folsom, Calif., his step children Sharron Ritchie (Jim) of Triangle Lake, Ore., Robin Green (Angie) of Medford, Ore., Lorraine Green of Folsom, Calif., David Green (MaryJo) of Manteca, Calif. and Lorne Green (Rainy) of Oroville, Calif., His children, Brenda Wilde (Wendell) of Payson, Utah and Glenn Landers (Peggy) of Fallbrook, Calif. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Tony joined the United States Navy in January of 1944 and was honorably discharged in May of 1946. He served aboard the S. S. Selma Victory and the Valdosta Victory in the Asiatic Pacific. He often told stories about the different places his tour of duty took him, particularly the one that literally turned his hair gray at the young age of 20.
Tony belonged to Operating Engineers Union Local 3 and Local 12. He remained an active member and was recently awarded his 50 year watch. He worked in many different cities and towns throughout California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada as a skilled loader operator. He was also a skilled carpenter and was involved in building several bridges, dams, shopping center and housing developments. He was proud of all the projects and pointed them out on our many trips. He settled down and took up roots in the Fresno area in the 1950's where he raised his 3 children. He eventually relocated to Livermore, Calif., where he met his wife and best friend Rose. They retired and together built 3 homes, one in Livermore, Calif., one in Camino, Calif. and the last in Payson, Ariz. They stayed in Payson for 12 years. He would often say "We finally got it right." Tony and Rose returned to California in 2006 and settled in Folsom. Tony was an ardent joke teller. If you are a waitress or cashier you may remember him. Whenever he visited a restaurant or store he would always leave the waitress or clerk laughing.
He is especially remembered by his stepdaughter Lorraine Green, granddaughter Becky Green, grandson Terry Green and most of all his buddy, great-granddaughter Anna Green all of Folsom, Calif.
We will miss him.