Charles Saunders

1925 - 2016

Charles L. Saunders MOORESVILLE - Charles L. Saunders, loving husband, caring father, avid golfer, nature lover and "Uncle Charlie" to many, died on March 18, 2016. He was 90 years old. Charlie was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, December 10, 1925 to Ethel Saunders. His father, Grover Cleveland Saunders, passed away before his birth. An older brother, Cleveland, died when Charles was two months old. He was raised by his mother and two older sisters, Frances and Lois. He liked to say that he was one of the youngest people to ever attend college as he spent some time at Campbell College where his mother worked as a dietician during part of his early years. Charlie lived in Winston-Salem and in Raleigh. He graduated from Broughton High School in 1943. During high school, he worked at Pine State Creamery. His children well remember that every trip to the beach took them through Raleigh where they were regaled with stories of Pine State Creamery and the Hayes Barton Pool. After graduation, he joined the Navy where he served as a gunner on a dive bomber and developed a love of flying which stayed with him through life. It was in 1948 that a family friend in Winston-Salem, Andree Holt, introduced him to her sister, Francine Vercruysse, who was visiting from Belgium. He was smitten! Despite language and cultural differences, they were married just four months later. Francine was the love of his life. Together they had four children: Patricia, Suzanne, Steve and Michelle. Charlie worked at Western Electric for several years and then took a job with the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore. He was proud of his union activities and believed strongly in treating people fairly. In 1956, he returned to Winston-Salem and founded what was to become Crotts & Saunders Engineering, Inc. In 1976, he and Francine moved to Lake Norman. He sold his interest in the company in 1994. Charlie never met a stranger and enjoyed knowing a variety of people. He remembered everyone he met and had stories to tell about most of them. He was a very generous man and even when finding it hard to make ends meet, he would share with others in need. He often said he wanted his tombstone to read "He had the patience of Job, he wasn't chintzy and he was a good ol' fart". He believed in education and regretted that he was unable to attend college. He was a lover of nature and a questioner of the universe. Charlie was preceded in death by his son, Steve. He leaves behind to continue his legacy his loving wife Francine; three daughters: Patricia Ball (James), Suzanne Gordon (Ralph) and Michelle Meeks (Tommy); eight grandchildren, Courtney Ball Clark (Sean), Ryan Ball (Megan), Carrie Saunders, Emily Gordon, Stuart Gordon (Kelley), Jenna Meeks Ames (Aaron), Charlie Meeks and Caitlin Meeks; and 4 great grandchildren, Sierra, Kate, Alice, and Eliza Grace Clark. He will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends from 1-3 PM on Tuesday, March 22 at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. A short informal service of music and remembrances will occur at 2 pm in the visitation area. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Saunders family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.