Donald Eugene Saunders Jr.

COLUMBIA - Dr. Donald Eugene Saunders Jr., 80, died Saturday, July 2, 2011; after an extended illness. Born in Columbia, he was the son of the late Donald Eugene and Margaret Welch Saunders and a grandson of the late Robert Holland Welch, who served in the South Carolina legislature from 1912-14.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Carol Cook Saunders; daughter, Leslie Saunders and her husband, David Byer Lapin, both of Chicago; sons, Dr. Donald E. Saunders III and his wife, Stephanie Robertson Saunders, both of Charleston, Reid Welch Saunders of McLean, Va. He was affectionately known as 'Oompapa' to his grandchildren, Maxine Rae and Arden Reid Lapin, both of Chicago, and Catherine Averyt, Ella Grace and Cynthia Jackson Saunders, all of Charleston. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Dorothy Ann Saunders.

A memorial service, followed by a reception, for Dr. Saunders will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at the Columbia Museum of Art.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Saunders Humanities in Medicine Fund at U.S.C. School of Medicine, Office of the Dean, Columbia, SC 29208, Columbia Museum of Art, P.O. Box 2068, Columbia, SC 29202 or a charity of one's choice.

For a complete obituary and to sign the online guestbook please visit www.dunbarfunerals.com.