Ernest Lee Sanders (1928 - 2020)

Born 22 Sep 1928 in Pawnee Township, Sangamon, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Son of Russell Lee Sanders and Mary Barbara (Schust) Sanders

Husband of Linda Ann (Diedrich) Sanders — married 29 Aug 1953 (to 19 Dec 2020) in Hilton, Monroe, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 2020 at age 92 in Brockport, Sweden, Monroe, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Stephen Sanders [send private message]

Ernest Sanders has English ancestors.

Ernest Sanders has German Roots.

Sgt Ernest Sanders served in the United States Army in the Korean War
Service started: 1 Jan 1951
Unit(s): 279th Infantry Fox Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Service ended: 2 Feb 1953

Biography

Early Life

Ernest Lee "Ernie" Sanders was born on 22 September 1928 in Pawnee Township, Sangamon, Illinois, the second of three children of Anglo-American Russell Lee Sanders and Gottscheer-American Mary Barbara Schust.^[1][2][3][4]

The family lived in Pawnee Township near the Village of Pawnee, in a house that was most likely owned by Peabody Coal Company. His father worked as a farm laborer, and his mother took care of household matters.

The family moved to Parma, Monroe, New York in 1936 and originally lived and labored on the Gioia farm on Curtis Road. They moved to the Bulger farm on Manitou Road in Greece in 1942-1943, where they worked as sharecroppers. They were provided with shelter, a little money, and a section of the farm on which they could grow their own food in exchange for their labor on the farm.^[5][6] Ernest left school after the 8th grade to work on the farm.^[7] Before 1950, Ernest found long-term work as a truck loader at Duffy-Mott's, Inc., an apple processing company in Hamlin.^[8]

Adulthood

Military

Ernest was drafted into the United States Army on 2 January 1951 and was first a member of the 167th Infantry Division before being assigned to the 279th Infantry Fox Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division prior to his duty in Korea.^[7][9][7] He was stationed first at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as a Private - where he obtained the rank of Corporal around December 1951 - before being transferred to Camp Atterbury, Indiana in April 1952.^[9][10][11] He was then transferred to San Francisco, California in June-July 1952 in preparation for his overseas assignment in Korea, which is when he joined the 45th Infantry Division.^[12][13] He and his regiment were sent to Busan and eventually Incheon, and spent several months in Korea.^[7] Ernest, having since been promoted to Sergeant, received his discharge on 2 February 1953 and returned home from Korea.^[14][15]

For his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the New York Medal for Merit, and the Korean War Service Medal. He stayed in the Army Reserve for six years after returning home.^[7]

After Military

Ernest married Linda Ann Diedrich of Parma on 29 August 1953 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hilton. After honeymooning to his native Illinois, they made their home at 801 Manitou Road before moving in with Ernest's parents at 838 Manitou Road..^[15] Together, they had three daughters and a son, all of whom were born in Brockport.^[7] The family purchased a new home in the Westbrook Acres Tract of Brockport in late 1956 or early 1957, where Ernest and Linda lived for the rest of their lives.^[16][7] After having worked at Duffy-Mott's for roughly 37 years, Ernest started work at the Brockport Central School District as a custodian. He worked there for a decade before ultimately retiring.

In his spare time, he enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, square dancing, and visiting casinos. He also entered into various phases upon retiring, including one in which he would build wooden clocks in his workshop.^[7]

Death

Ernest passed away at his home in Brockport on the morning of 19 December 2020 at the age of 92, after a period of declining health. He was buried with military honors three days later in Parma Union Cemetery.^[17]

Obituary

Brockport - Ernest L. Sanders passed away on December 19, 2020, at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Diedrich) Sanders; children, Deborah (Dave Hill) Wolck, Susan (Brian) Jones, Stephen (Linda) Sanders; grandchildren, Adam (Daria) Wolck, Micah Wolck, Leanne Showler, Shane, Nathan (Daria), Kelly Jones, Katie Sue (Silvano) Bullo, Joshua (Alexa) DeBellis, Stefanie DeBellis, Ryan Sanders, Stephen Sanders and Kyle Sanders; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille "Sandy" Conley; Godchild, Jennifer Diedrich; brothers-in-law, Richard (Pat) Diedrich, David (Kathy) Diedrich; Sisters-in-law, Mary (Dave) Schutte, Carol (Larry) Straus, Joan (Lenny) Palmisano; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Predeceased by daughter, Lisa DeBellis; brother, Wilbur Sanders; brothers-in-law, Luther (Betty Lou) Diedrich and Robert (Diane) Diedrich.

Ernie was a life-long member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hilton. He worked at Duffy Mott Co. in Hamlin until they closed. Afterwards he worked for Brockport Central School. He was a Veteran and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War conflict between 1951 and 1953. Ernie was a dedicated family man and they referred to him as "Our Hero". He also enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening. He and Linda were active square dancers for many years. They also enjoyed their trips to various casinos.

No prior calling. Friends are invited to Ernie's Funeral Service, following CDC guidelines, on Tuesday, at 11:00 am, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hilton. Interment with Military Honors in Parma Union Cemetery.

Donations can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 158 East Avenue, Hilton, NY 14468 in Ernest's memory.^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Ernest Lee Sanders, birth certificate [long form] (1928), Illinois Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Statistics, Springfield.
2. ↑ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch, Ernest Lee Sanders, Residence, Brockport, New York, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com: Ernest Lee Sanders in U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, Wilbur L Sanders in household of Russell L Sanders, Pawnee, Sangamon, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 81, sheet 1A, line 19, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 558; FHL microfilm 2,340,293.
   NOTE: LISTED AS "WILBUR" IN THIS CENSUS, WHICH ENDED UP BEING HIS YOUNGER BROTHER'S NAME.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Ernest Sanders in household of Russell Sanders, Parma Town, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 28-60, sheet 7A, line 2, family 146, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2679.
6. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Additional Local Items", roughly halfway down the section. The Hilton Record, November 1942.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7} Personal testimony.
8. ↑ "United States 1950 Census," FamilySearch, Ernest Sanders in the household of Russel Sanders, Greece, Monroe, New York.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} FultonHistory.com: "Local Service Men", right column roughly halfway down. The Hilton Record, 15 November 1951.
10. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Local Service Men", right column roughly halfway down. The Hilton Record, 10 January 1952.
11. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Brevities", left column, 7th paragraph down. The Hilton Record, 1 May 1952.
12. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Brevities", left column, 10th paragraph down. The Hilton Record, 12 June 1952, pg. 5.
13. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Local Service Men", right column roughly halfway down. The Hilton Record, 26 November 1952, pg. 6.
14. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Brevities", middle column, fifth paragraph down. The Hilton Record, 5 February 1953, pg. 5.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} FultonHistory.com: "Sanders-Diedrich". The Hilton Record, 3 September 1953, pg. 1.
16. ↑ FultonHistory.com: "Brevities", right column, 7th paragraph down. The Hilton Record, 29 November 1956, pg. 5.
17. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #220027995
18. ↑ Obituary of Ernest Lee Sanders from Thomas E Burger Funeral Home, Inc.