Troy V Sanders

Troy V. Sanders died peacefully at age 92 on June 26th, 2017.  He was born to Benjamin and Beulah Sanders in Nolan County, Texas, on October 27th, 1924.  Troy’s father was a farmer and when the dust bowl hit, he and his family were forced to take all their belongings and move to California.  In this move, his family suffered greatly, camping by the side of the road and earning income by picking crops along the way.  Troy never forgot this experience and spent his life helping people who were less fortunate than he was, just as people helped his family on the trek to California.

Troy graduated from Sweet Water High School in California and joined the United States Navy.  He was on a ship in the South Pacific during WWII and hence was part of “the greatest generation”.  Troy provided us with many interesting stories concerning this time in his life.  Troy enjoyed the U.S. Navy so much that he signed up four times, serving over 21 years in the service of our country.

Troy was a caregiver.  He took care of his four wives until the day they died.  He was indeed on this earth to care for others.

 Troy had many reasons to be sad and discouraged.  He lost his only sibling, a brother, during the dust bowl years; both of his biological daughters, Katherine Elizabeth Smith and Sandra Sanders Howard; and all four of his wives; but he was determined to live his life fully and make the best of what he had.

Troy is survived by his grandson, James Edward Smith, Jr. (Angie) and great-granddaughter, Victoria Smith, all of West Columbia, South Carolina.  He is also survived by his step-daughter, Sheryl Scott Ranson (Charles) and their children, and by his step-son, Harold A. Scott, Jr. (Sandi) and their children, and by his adopted family in New York, including Faith Held and Calvin Cordulack, Donald and Angela Held, and Joseph Held.

Special thanks to Paula Prosser and the staff at Rapha Residential Care in Gaston, South Carolina.  They are wonderful!  Rapha provided a wonderful home for Pop during his last four years.  He described Rapha as home and the people who worked there as his loves.

Thanks also to the Tidewater Hospice staff who helped him through the last months of his life.  They helped make his passage a peaceful one.

A graveside remembrance will be held at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Rapha Residential Care, 3959 Fish Hatchery Road, Gaston SC 29053 or to White Knoll Church of Christ, 675 Old Orangeburg Road, Lexington, SC 29073. 

Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Sanders family.