Thomas Saunders Sr.

INVERNESS, FL ---- Senior Master Sergeant Thomas J. Saunders, Sr., passed away in Inverness, Florida on Tuesday, 14 November 2023. A veteran and civil servant, Tom dutifully defended his country during the Persian Gulf War, as well as numerous conflicts and operations in the Middle East and Africa.
Senior Master Sergeant Saunders was born on 27 December 1959 in Laconia, New Hampshire to Thomas and Claudette Saunders. He enlisted in the Air Force in the summer of 1979 and was first stationed at the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. Tom Saunders traveled to Africa, Asia, Europe, and across the United States to hone his craft and make meaningful impacts through instructing, documenting military efforts, and assisting with humanitarian aid. A defining moment of Sergeant Saunders' decorated career was Operation Support Hope in 1994, where he documented the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide and assisted with handing out 15,000 tons of humanitarian supplies.
After nearly 26 years of selfless active duty service to his country, Senior Master Sergeant Tom Saunders retired with full honors in the summer of 2005, only to continue serving his country as a Public Affairs Action Officer supporting the United States Army and United States Air Force. He finally retired in April of 2023 after 43 years in the Department of Defense both in and out of uniform.
As proud as Tom Saunders was of his military career, it pales in comparison to the pride he had in his children and the importance he placed on family. A true Boston sports fan with a larger-than-life personality, he spent the rest of his days with friends, watching sports, and attending social functions with his fiancée, Terri, and her kids McKenzi and Trey Maynard.
He is survived by his fiancee, Terri McKean; daughters, Brittany Allsop-Adams and Victoria Saunders; his sons, Ryan Saunders, Thomas Saunders, Jr, and Gunner Saunders; his grandchildren, Isabella Hetu, Riley Saunders, Caleb Saunders, Aiden Saunders, and Kai Hetu; his mother, Claudette Saunders; his sisters Linda Goodwin, Michelle Saunders, and Laurie Martines; twin brother Tim Saunders and younger brother Eric Saunders; and his best friend and pet dog, Buddy Lightfoot Saunders. He now joins his granddaughter, Juliette Hetu, and his father Tom N. Saunders.
Calling Hours will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, with a Memorial Service at 4:00pm, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.
A Graveside Burial with military honors will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 3:00pm at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH.
For those who wish, memorial donations may be made in Tom's name to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 in Tom's honor.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.