Obituary of Dewey Columbus Sanders

Dewey Columbus Sanders, Jr., 82, of Kingsport, Tennessee passed away Saturday, January 17, 2015 at his home that he shared with his loving wife, Betty. He will be greatly missed. Dewey was born June 12, 1932 in Blackwater, VA to Dewey and Dora Sanders. He attended Blackwater High School and later earned his G.E.D. while in the Army. Dewey was a veteran of the Korean War where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. After his discharge in 1953, Dewey married the former Norma Loraine Wallen of Blackwater, his high school sweetheart. Dewey and Norma moved to Akron, Ohio where they enjoyed raising two children, Michael and Melissa. Dewey was employed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he won numerous patents. He later moved his family to Decatur, Alabama where he supervised fabric development. Dewey retired from Goodyear after over 30 years, only to lose Norma to cancer soon after. Dewey moved to Kingsport, Tennessee to be closer to his brothers and sisters whom he loved. He met and married the former Peggy Mellons and then later the former Betty Harris. Betty was his wife, companion, and nurse until brain cancer quickly took his life. Dewey was a good man whose quiet Christian faith and cherished church fellowship defined who he was. He was a founding member and Deacon of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Decatur where he taught Sunday school and was a Youth Group leader with Norma. In Kingsport he engaged in prison ministry and was always ready to help in any way he could. You could depend on Dewey if you ever needed help. He learned to work hard at a young age, plowing the family farm with a mule. In the Army he developed life-long habits of order and discipline. He was well organized and always punctual. If you were going with him, he was driving. And you better not dally because he would tell you, "The bus leaves in 5 minutes" and he meant it. Dewey took pride in his appearance; shoes were always shined, shirt always tucked in. He maintained his weight by driving himself to the Y to workout six days a week until a month before his death. Dewey was confident and determined and taught his children to be the same. If he said he would do it, you could count on it being done and done well - no excuses. Dewey quit smoking and drinking "cold turkey" without complaint. He loved to work outdoors and always had a manicured lawn. But Dewey wasn't all work. In his earlier years he enjoyed golf, china painting and a good game of Rook. He loved to sing, both in his Alabama church choir, and anytime the radio played an old country song. In his later years he enjoyed watching reruns of "The Waltons" on TV or visiting his brothers and sisters. And Dewey always loved to dance. At most any family gathering he would swoop up a granddaughter and dance with her, even if he had to supply the music by singing. Dewey is survived by his daughter, Melissa Wade and husband Steve of Boerne, TX, his son Dr. Michael Sanders and wife Susie of Knoxville; grandchildren Megan McCarty, Katie Davis, Sean Wade and Laura Sanders; and great-grandchildren Michael and Kylie McCarty. Dewey is also survived by his sisters Geneva Trapp of Blackwater, VA and Kaye Newkirk and Dave of Chester, VA; and brothers Kenneth Sanders and Sue of Elizabethtown, PA, Kermit (Ted) Sanders and Barbara of Kingsport, and James Sanders and Sandy of Morristown; and too many beloved nieces and nephews to name. Dewey was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Dora Sanders and his first wife Norma of Blackwater, VA; sisters Arneda Russell and Donald of Kingsport, Bernice Wallen of Ben Hur, VA; and by his brothers Maford Sanders, and Pat Sanders and Kate both of Gastonia, NC. Family and friends are encouraged to gather from 11:00 - 1:00 pm, Friday, January 23 for sharing of condolences, fellowship, and viewing of the body at Carter-Trent Funeral Home (www.cartertrent.com) in Kingsport. Funeral services will immediately follow there beginning at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Way of Life Baptist Church in Kingsport. Pastor Johnny Gibson will officiate and the church choir will provide music. Burial will follow at the Lee Memorial Gardens in Pennington Gap, VA where Dewey will be laid to eternal rest beside Norma.