Richard Paul Saunders M.D.

Richard Paul Saunders M.D. December 24, 1924 - June 13, 2008 Richard (Dick) Saunders died on Friday, June 13, 2008 in Grand Junction. He was 83 years old. Dick was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Paul J Saunders and Lillian Elizabeth Banther Saunders. Following his mother's death in 1933 the family moved to Colorado. Upon his graduation from Wheatridge High School in 1943, he reported immediately for active duty in the US Army. Dick's life long ambition was to become a doctor. This dream was realized when the Army cut orders for him to attend medical school following the successful completion of a battery of tests. He graduated from Saint Louis School of Medicine in 1949. Following Medical School Dick served in the Army Medical Corps of the US Occupation Troops in Munich, Germany. Here he met his wife of 57 years, Muriel Helen Hagstrom. They were married on February 24, 1951. Returning to the US in 1952, Dick began his four-year residency program in pathology at Denver General Hospital. He became the first pathologist in Durango, Colorado in January 1957. Dick was the 40th physician in the Grand Valley when he and his family moved to Grand Junction in August of 1958. He was a pathologist at St. Mary's Hospital for over 30 years. At that time the pathology department served 14 area hospitals in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah. He learned to fly an airplane in order to cover the long distances between these hospitals. Dick loved to sail and taught himself celestial navigation. He also loved to ski and will be remembered as an avid reader and a keen intellect. He commented often to his children that he had been very fortunate in both his life and his marriage. He is survived by his wife, Muriel, his daughter, Anne P. Saunders, both of Grand Junction, his son, Paul J Saunders II of San Francisco, and his brother, Jack L Saunders, of Williamsburg, VA. No services are planned. Donations may be made in Dick's name to Mesa County Public Library, 530 Grand Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 or the Roice Hurst Humane Society, 3320 D 1/2 Rd, Clifton, CO 81520, www.roice-hurst.org. The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of Larchwood Inns and Hospice & Palliative Care.