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Marion Sanders Obituary
He attended the University of Arkansas, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering He joined the Navy in 1942, and as a radar technician, he installed and repaired radar systems on submarines and ships.
He married Billie Burke Cummings on August 18,1943, and they moved to San Francisco where he was assigned to the Naval base at Mare Island. As World War II ended, Sandy remained in the Naval Reserves and eventually retired as a Commander in 1969.
After leaving active duty with the Navy, Sandy went to work with the Army Corps of Engineers in Dallas, Texas . He transferred to Colorado Springs in 1955 to work for Civil Service alongside the Air Force team developing U.S. Defense Systems and establishing the NORAD Complex. He used to joke that he was "quadrilingual, being able to speak Navy, Army, Air Force and civilian." During the Cuban crisis in 1960 Sandy worked 24 hours straight passing defense alerts throughout Canada and the U.S.
After sailing to Hawaii in 1968 for their 25th wedding anniversary, Billie & Sandy returned many times to vacation and eventually moved to Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. Billie and Sandy were married for 61 years. Billie passed away in June, 2004.
Sandy was a past Master Mason of Tejon Lodge #104 in Colorado Springs . He also achieved the high honor of 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was an active Shriner, both in Colorado and Hawaii.
He is survived by two daughters, Suzanne Kinkade and Patti Sanders-Haddon, Patti's husband, Kenneth Haddon, four grandchildren, Michael (Molly), Patrick (Vickie), Travis and Carla Kinkade and two great grandchildren, Billie Belle Kinkade and Kodiak Raine Lee Kinkade.
Donations in his remembrance may be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital Transportation Fund at P.O. Box 1651, Kahului, Hawaii 96733-1651.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Marion Sanders
6 Entries
CAROL J TODD
April 12, 2023
Another year gone by and I still miss my friend, Sandy Sanders. Always in my memory. Carol
CAROL J TODD
April 7, 2022
I still keep a picture of you by my desk - unforgettable forever! My niece, Savanah, and I came to see you on your 90th birthday in Hawaii! Great time!! He lives on through his girls and their families.
Sunset from Carol's deck
Carol Todd
April 7, 2020
P.S. I still think about Sandy and Billie at every sunset. When it's dark here, the sun is still shining on them in Hawaii.
My boss, Sandy, at work - HQ Air Defense Command, 1970
Carol Todd
April 7, 2020
The only time I had to work all night was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Our Communications-Electronics office sent a lot of messages that night, written (scribbled - worst handwriting!) by Sandy and typed by me.
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Toni Logan
April 27, 2014
My best memory of Sandy was his emceeing of our get togethers after we retired. He had quite a way with words. I also loved his emails after he and Billie moved to Hawaii. Hope he is making them laugh in Heaven.
Carol Todd (Potts) (Clewley)
April 27, 2014
So sad to say goodbye to my first boss at the Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, Colo Spgs, in 1958. I was 17 when hired, and Sandy was there to celebrate my 18th birthday in the office, complete with an Elvis cake! (I am still crazy about Elvis.) We had many years of great laughs at work. Sandy was born on my mother's birthday, Oct 9, and his first daughter, Suzanne, was born on my birthday, Aug 28, so we exchanged "used" birthday cards for the next 66 years, back and forth. Some were almost worn out, like us. I'll be looking for you when/if(?)I get to Heaven!
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