Charles William Sanders

Mr. Charles William Sanders, 88, of Molena, and formerly of Thomaston, died Thursday, December 30th, 2010 at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living in Dunwoody. Mr. Sanders was born in Butler, GA., a son of the late Charlie G. Sanders and Pauline Peters Sanders. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre on the USS Lexington during World War II. Mr. Sanders returned to Thomaston after the war and worked briefly as an electrician's helper at Thomaston Mills. He was then employed at Robins Air Force Base for 30 years. Mr. Sanders was blessed by three loving marriages during his life. His first marriage was to Lonelle Evans on March 12th, 1947 and this union would produce two daughters, Judy and Ellen. After Lonelle's death in 1983, Mr. Sanders married Clara D. Phillips. Death claimed Clara in 1989 and Mr. Sanders would later marry Geneva Pilkinton. Their marriage would last until her death in 2007. Mr. Sanders was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Thomaston and later the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Molena. He was a member of the Morningstar Lodge #27, Free and Accepted Masons and received his 50-year membership award in 1999. He was also active in the Thomaston Lions Club. Survivors include his two daughters, Judy S. (James L.) Hughes and Ellen Sanders, both of Dunwoody; three sisters, Lois Barfield of Thomaston, Estelle Lee of Reynolds and Katie Wisham of Albany; three grandchildren, Hayley Hughes, Ashley Hughes and Nea Sanders, a faithful caregiver, Hellen Carr, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Sanders were held Friday, December 31st, 2010 in the Chapel of the Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home. Dr. Don Fehr and Rev. Leon Newman officiated and burial was in South View Cemetery.