(Sept. 1, 2009)
Robert L. Sanderson, 85, of Greybull died Tuesday Sept. 1 at South Big Horn County Hospital in Basin, after a year-long battle with cancer.
He was born Oct. 19, 1923 in Powell, the son of Howard B. Sanderson and Vivienne Ash Sanderson. He attended school in Lovell and graduated from Greybull High School in 1941.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Marines during World War II as an airplane mechanic and served as a crew chief responsible for maintenance of F4U Corsair fighters on Majuro and Kwajelein. He was discharged from the Marines in February, 1946.
In 1947, he married Nan Harvey, daughter of Oral and Randa Harvey, and to this union was born three sons and one daughter. Robert was employed as a combination man for Mountain Bell for 32 years. He was a member of the Catholic church. His first love was spending time in the mountains, hunting elk and deer, and fishing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Nan Sanderson of Greybull; his sons, Tim R. (Jane) Sanderson of Greybull, Brant Harvey (Nancy) Sanderson of Banner, and Dirk Howard (Cheryl) Sanderson of Sheridan; his daughter, Louise (Dave) Carne of Rossville, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren, including one due to arrive in October. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard B. Sanderson and Vivienne Ash Sanderson.
Funeral services will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greybull, Wyoming at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday) with Father Michael Ehiemere officiating. Burial will follow at the Donald J. Ruhl Memorial Cemetery in Greybull.
There will be a reception following the services for family and friends at 1:00 P.M. at the Greybull Elks BPOE #1431 Lodge.
A memorial fund has been established at Big Horn Federal Savings Bank, P.O. Box 471, Greybull, WY 82426, with proceeds benefiting Midway Clinic and Bonnie Bluejacket Memorial Nursing Home.
Atwood Family Funeral Directors, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.