Chaplain
Chaplain Army (Ret.)
d. March 7, 2015
Chaplain LTC George E. Saunders, U. S. Army (Ret.), 88, of Savannah, Georgia, formerly of Canton, Illinois and widower of Patricia Jean Ferro Saunders, died Saturday evening, March 7, 2015, at his home surrounded by his family and under the care of Spanish Oaks Hospice.
Born in Canton, IL, he was the son of the late Clarence and Edith Saunders. He graduated from Canton High School, Canton, IL in 1945. He served his country in the Army in Brussels, Belgium at the end of WWII. He attended Lincoln Jr. College, Lincoln, IL, Bradley University, Peoria, IL, nd McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1954 and his first church was The Presbyterian Church, Brewster, MN. He then joined the Air Force and was assigned to McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA. Returning to civilian life three years later, he pastored Middletown Presbyterian Church, Middletown, IA. In 1960 the Army asked for volunteer Chaplains and he was assigned to Ft. Polk, LA. Other assignments were: Thule, Greenland, Ft. Hamilton, NY, Ft. Knox, KY, Mekong Delta, Viet Nam, Ft. Leslie J. McNair, DC, Karlsruhe, Germany, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. He retired from the Army in 1977 and continued preaching in Presbyterian churches as interim pastor in McRae and Swainsboro, GA. He also volunteered as Chaplain at the Chatham County Jail for 7 years.
He received various commendations while serving his country: Army Commendation Medal for military merit, Meritorious Service for outstanding achievement, and the Bronze Star.
He enjoyed woodworking, exercising and spending time with his wife at their lakeside cabin in the northwoods of Crosslake, MN.
He was a beloved father and father-in-law. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and anyone he came in contact with.
In addition to his wife of 64 years and his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Pschirrer, and his half-sister, Fern Miller.
Surviving are his daughter, Chris Dasher and husband, Don, of Savannah; sister-in-law, Margaret Barton of Manchester, MO; brother-in-law, Don Ellsworth (Marcheta) of Crossville, TN; two nieces, Laurie Barton of Ballwin, MO and Barbara Stern of Nashville, TN, and five nephews, Jamie Barton of Manchester, MO, Martin Pschirrer (Becky) of Rockford, IL, Tom Pschirrer (Katherine) of Charleston, IL, Doug Ellsworth of Champaign, IL, and Brad Ellsworth (Melanie) of Austin, TX.
The family wishes to thank all of the many caregivers who were so loving and caring, especially Kim Nowicki and Cheryl McQueen. A special thanks for the care and support provided by Dr. David Gaskin and staff, Dr. M. Mullins, Edith Utley and staff. Also, Spanish Oaks Hospice president Keith Munger and staff, Colby Aimar, Lori Shinnel and Chaplain Drew Corbett.
His wishes were to be donated for research to the Medical College of Georgia.
Remembrances: Crosslake Presbyterian Church - 14444 Daggett Pine Road, Crosslake, MN 56442, Georgia Regents University - 1120 Fifteenth St., Augusta, GA 30912, Spanish Oaks Hospice - 8510 Whitfield Ave., Savannah, GA 31406, First Presbyterian Church - 275 Linden St., Canton, IL 61520, or Lincoln College - 306 Keokuk St., Lincoln, IL 62656.
Born in Canton, IL, he was the son of the late Clarence and Edith Saunders. He graduated from Canton High School, Canton, IL in 1945. He served his country in the Army in Brussels, Belgium at the end of WWII. He attended Lincoln Jr. College, Lincoln, IL, Bradley University, Peoria, IL, nd McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1954 and his first church was The Presbyterian Church, Brewster, MN. He then joined the Air Force and was assigned to McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA. Returning to civilian life three years later, he pastored Middletown Presbyterian Church, Middletown, IA. In 1960 the Army asked for volunteer Chaplains and he was assigned to Ft. Polk, LA. Other assignments were: Thule, Greenland, Ft. Hamilton, NY, Ft. Knox, KY, Mekong Delta, Viet Nam, Ft. Leslie J. McNair, DC, Karlsruhe, Germany, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. He retired from the Army in 1977 and continued preaching in Presbyterian churches as interim pastor in McRae and Swainsboro, GA. He also volunteered as Chaplain at the Chatham County Jail for 7 years.
He received various commendations while serving his country: Army Commendation Medal for military merit, Meritorious Service for outstanding achievement, and the Bronze Star.
He enjoyed woodworking, exercising and spending time with his wife at their lakeside cabin in the northwoods of Crosslake, MN.
He was a beloved father and father-in-law. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and anyone he came in contact with.
In addition to his wife of 64 years and his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Pschirrer, and his half-sister, Fern Miller.
Surviving are his daughter, Chris Dasher and husband, Don, of Savannah; sister-in-law, Margaret Barton of Manchester, MO; brother-in-law, Don Ellsworth (Marcheta) of Crossville, TN; two nieces, Laurie Barton of Ballwin, MO and Barbara Stern of Nashville, TN, and five nephews, Jamie Barton of Manchester, MO, Martin Pschirrer (Becky) of Rockford, IL, Tom Pschirrer (Katherine) of Charleston, IL, Doug Ellsworth of Champaign, IL, and Brad Ellsworth (Melanie) of Austin, TX.
The family wishes to thank all of the many caregivers who were so loving and caring, especially Kim Nowicki and Cheryl McQueen. A special thanks for the care and support provided by Dr. David Gaskin and staff, Dr. M. Mullins, Edith Utley and staff. Also, Spanish Oaks Hospice president Keith Munger and staff, Colby Aimar, Lori Shinnel and Chaplain Drew Corbett.
His wishes were to be donated for research to the Medical College of Georgia.
Remembrances: Crosslake Presbyterian Church - 14444 Daggett Pine Road, Crosslake, MN 56442, Georgia Regents University - 1120 Fifteenth St., Augusta, GA 30912, Spanish Oaks Hospice - 8510 Whitfield Ave., Savannah, GA 31406, First Presbyterian Church - 275 Linden St., Canton, IL 61520, or Lincoln College - 306 Keokuk St., Lincoln, IL 62656.
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