Joseph Sanders

Joseph Sanders

Joseph C. "J.C." Sanders, 82, of Scott City died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 18, 1926, near Commerce, Mo., son of Claude F. and Mable A. Loftin Sanders. He married Lillian Kerley Feb. 4, 1949.

J.C. worked as a lineman, installer-repairman and switchman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., retiring in 1983.

He was a Navy veteran of World War II, and survivor of the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Princeton on which he was a plane captain.

Sanders was a member of VFW Post 6407 in Scott City, a former Scoutmaster of Illmo Boy Scout Troop 22 and a member of Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow.

He was former president of Telephone Pioneers, Show Me Council of Southeast Missouri and was serving as environmental and disaster chairman for the Show Me Council Pioneers.

In 2004 he was one of 16 SBC retirees who served in World War II to be selected to participate in the National World War II Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. He was introduced to two former and the current president of the United States.

Survivors include a son, Don (Terry) Sanders of Scott City; a daughter, Lillian (Erv) Markhart of Hayden, Idaho; and a sister, Martha (Herschel) Gilpin of Commerce, Mo. Grandchildren include Sarah (Jeremy) Pruden of Scott City, Neil (Angie) Sanders of Smithville, Mo., Lisa Sanders of Scott City, Susan (Mathew) Broadhurst of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Laura Markhart of Hayden, Lorie (Doug) Robert of Scott City, Mark Morrill of Scott City, and Chris Morrill of Bartlett, Tenn. Great-grandchildren include Lance and Trenton Pruden, Joseph and Megan Sanders, Isabella Markhart, Jackson Broadhurst, Landon and Lyndsie Robert, Aleah Morrill.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City, and from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at Eisleben Lutheran Church.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Bob Azinger officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Eisleben Lutheran Church.