Born Nov. 14, 1928, at Gainesville Services for Troy Ross Sanders will be held at 9:30 a.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 1) in the sanctuary of Calvary Free Will Baptist Church, Claremore Okla., with the Rev. Tom Schulze officiating. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. in the Jenkins Cemetery west of Ava, under the direction of Rice Funeral Service.
Troy passed away Saturday, Nov. 27, 2005, at St. John Medical Center, Tulsa. He was 77.
Born Nov. 14, 1928, at Gainesville, to F.A. and Macie (Powers) Sanders, they moved to Ava, when he was a child, where he was raised and received his education.
In 1947, Troy was married to Georgia Jenkins. He worked in a gas station and ran a milk route for a few years before moving to Washington state, where they resided for three years, before moving to Claremore, Okla., in 1951. Troy worked at Hesston for several years, later retiring from Centrilift in 1988 as a master machinist. He accepted the Lord in 1953 at the First Free Will Baptist Church. In 1971, he joined Calvary Free Will Baptist Church. Troy was an ordained deacon and served this position from 1954 to 2005.
He had served many other offices during these years.
Although God was number one in his life, he dearly loved his family. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a blessing to him.
Troy enjoyed fishing with his brother-in-law, Jim Haas, and they always argued over who had the biggest fish. He also loved the Claremore Zebras. He didn’t miss many games until his illness, but still kept a personal record of their wins and losses, something he has done since 1956. After he and Georgia retired, they bought an RV and spent many pleasurable times fishing and traveling.
Troy is survived by his wife of 58 years, Georgia; two sons, Don Sanders and wife Karen, of Claremore, Okla., and Ron Sanders and wife Sheila, of Tulsa, Okla.; grandchildren, Stacey Randell and husband Brian of Tulsa, Okla., Heath Sanders and wife Mary of Claremore, Okla., Barry Sanders and wife Carrie of Broken Arrow, Okla., Russ Sanders and wife Amanda of Tulsa, Okla.; step-grandchildren Michelle Shook and husband Chris of Tulsa, Okla., Katherine Wagner and husband Tony of Tulsa, Okla., Fred Bell and wife Sherrie of Claremore, Okla.; great-grandchildren Chelsea, Tyler and Hunter Randell, Will, Maddie, Seth and Anna Sanders, Kristen, Jakeh, Jared and Kendra Sanders, and Robby Sanders; step great-grandchildren Kenseigh Shook, JW and Gabby Thomas, and Hannah Wagner, Doug, Kala, Freddy and Travis Bell.
Also surviving are two brothers, Leonard Sanders, of Beaumont, Texas, Murl Sanders and wife Pat of Wagoner, Okla.; two sisters Amy Vreeland of Racine, Wisc., Verna Moses of Richmond, Ky. and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials in Troy’s memory may be made to the Jenkins Cemetery Assoc., HC71, Box 229, Ava, MO. 65608 or to Gideons International.
