John Sanders, III

Mr. John Thomas Sanders III passed away on October 4, 2008, in the Austin home of his daughter Dr. Kathleen D. Sanders. Mr. Sanders was born in Hubbard, Texas, on March 16, 1920, and was the son of John T. Sanders II and Bess Denning Sanders. He spent most of his youth in Mexia before attending Rice University where he received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering. His sixty plus years as a Professional Engineer included working in the fields of commercial refrigeration and industrial mixing while he and his family lived in many parts of the United States. During WWII, Mr. Sanders joined the Army Airforce in 1943, served through 1946 and achieved a rank of Captain. While supervising the maintenance, operation and movement of C-46 aircrafts from Kunming to Shanghia, China, he met and married Margaret O'Rourke on June 29, 1946. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret, four children, Dr. Kathleen D. Sanders, Maureen P. Walter and husband, Vic, John T. Sanders IV and wife Barbara, and Brian O'R. Sanders and wife Linda, and two grandsons, John B. Walter and Matthew P. Walter. His extended family includes cousins Judge PK and Margaret Reiter, their 3 daughters and son, William and Betty Reiter, their son and sister-in-law, Virginia Sanders and her two sons and daughter. The youngest generation of cousins, great-nieces and great nephews total 13. A memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia, Texas will be held on October 25, 2008 at 11 AM. Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church or Austin Hospice.