Sept. 28, 1946
Nov. 9, 2012
Frank “Butch” Sanders, 66, of Bluffton, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday in his wife’s arms surrounded by family after a year-long battle with esophageal cancer.
He was born Sept. 28, 1946, in Lima to Levi and Loretta (Prine) Sanders, who preceded him in death.
On Oct. 8, 1993, he married Deborah D. Webb, who survives in Bluffton.
Other survivors include three sons, Chad (Cindy) Sanders of Lima, Ryan (Staci) Wingfield of Harrod and Thad Wingfield of Bluffton; two daughters, DeEtte “Dee” (Darren) Helms of Delphos and Nicole “Nikki” (Joel) Dunifon of Bluffton; four brothers and six sisters; a sister-in-law, Bert Sanders of Delphos; 28 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and special friend, Jim Reams of Bluffton.
He was also preceded in death by the parents who raised him in Delphos, Stanton “Bus” and Margaret (Trempert) Sanders; and four brothers and two sisters.
Mr. Sanders was a U.S. Air Force veteran during Vietnam. He worked in maintenance at Fruehauf for more than 25 years, at PSI in Ottoville and the Lima City Schools. He was a member of High Street Free Will Baptist Church, American Legion Post 96, VFW Post 1275 and the Delphos Bass Club; an honorary lifetime member of Forest L. Wood Outdoor; and a lifetime member of the NRA. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.
Funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Shawnee Chapel Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation, the Rev. James Webb officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the VFW Post 1275 and the U.S. Air Force. Burial will be in Dayton National Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to the family for medical expenses.