ROCHESTER – Larry Lin Sanders, 71, Mentone, passed away Jan. 17, 2015, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester. He was born Jan. 3, 1944, in Fulton County, a treasured son of Ervin Jay and Josephine E. Utter Sanders. On Sept. 8, 1979, in Bryant, he married the love of his life, Marjorie Welling. Together they shared over 35-1/2 years of life’s adventures. From their union came three beautiful daughters. The family tree continued to grow with the arrival of two precious granddaughters. Growing up in Richland Township he shared his childhood with two sisters, Connie and Kay, and a brother, Marvin. During his high school years he attended Richland Center then in his senior year transferred to Rochester High School. He excelled in sports, pitching baseball and playing forward/guard for the Zebra basketball team. In the spring of 1962, Larry sailed over the high jump bar, shattering the RHS and Fulton County record at 6' 1". He ventured westward and attended Western New Mexico University. He continued his formal education at Arizona State. Patriotism beckoned and Larry answered the call, serving our country with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. As a union plumber and pipefitter, he was a member of locals #172 and #597. Over the years he was a licensed plumbing contractor and served Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. as maintenance director for more than a decade, retiring in 2009. He enjoyed fishing and he embraced the outdoors. He, along with accomplice Dave Burkett, enjoyed many fishing expeditions to the pristine lakes of Minnesota. Hitting the links, Tom Sawyer was seated next to him in their golf cart. Playing rounds on local courses was fun. Providing the greatest challenges were the courses they visited during excursions to Las Vegas. Each autumn, as an armchair quarterback, he was locked on to Notre Dame football. Living in a house divided, he occasionally cheered for Indiana University and Purdue, expressing loyalty for his daughters who attended the respective schools. There were many spirited croquet competitions hosted in either his or grandma's backyard. Known as the family handyman, he could fix literally anything. A man of perpetual motion, he was always ready to generously share his talents with family and friends. From his woodshop located in the garage, he created and built many gifts for his family – from rocking horses and a rocking crib to benches; if they dreamed it, he built it. Left to cherish Larry's memory are his wife, Marj, at home; three daughters, Jennifer Lynn (and spouse Charles) Manns, Ossian; and Kristen Leigh Sanders and Kelly Marie Sanders, both of Atlanta, Ga.; two granddaughters, Kate Josephine Manns, 5, and Lila Marie Manns, 3; two sisters, Connie (and spouse Jim) Walters and Kay (and spouse Marvin) Davis, all of Rochester; a brother, Marvin Sanders, Ruidosa, N.M.; his mother, Rochester; five sisters-in-law: Cathy (and spouse Mike) Bettinger; Geri (and spouse Mark) Mestemaker; Judy (and spouse Roger) Wellman; Joanne (and spouse Greg) Alig; and Linda (and spouse Kevin) Wellman; three brothers-in-law: Robert “Bob” (and spouse Rose) Welling; David (and spouse Colleen) Welling; and Paul (and spouse Mary) Welling; and the best mother-in-law he ever had, Mary Ellen Welling. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Preceding him in death are his father, Ervin Jay Sanders, Feb. 28, 2000; father-in-law, Marcel Welling, July 9, 2012; and a sister-in-law, Patsy Sanders. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Mike Smith officiating. Military graveside rites will be accorded by the Fulton County Honor Guard and the U.S. Army Military Rites Team. Burial will follow in the Rochester IOOF Cemetery. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to services. ***** Memorials to Mary and Jerrys Helping Hands, 10274 W. CR 600S, Mentone, IN 46539; Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpack through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN, 46580 (www.kcfoundation.org/helpyourcommunity/donate/details/cat/1/id/8); or the Peabody Retirement Community Smock Memory Center Caregivers Gift in care of Marjorie Sanders. Condolences via www.goodfamilyfh.com
