Ansil "Sandy" Saunders
Chief Boson Mate Navy 1935 - 1958 Pearl Harbor
Ansil "Sandy" Saunders, Association Founding Director Passes Away
Sponsored by Arizona Memorial Museum Association

Story & Photos by Ray Sandla

Ansil "L" Saunders, (Sandy) beloved husband, father and civic leader of Wahiawa, Hawaii, departed this life at the age 87, May 25 th 2006 at Queens Medical Center, Honolulu Hawaii.

He was known for his constant dedication to the memory of World War II. He served in the United States Navy for 23 years retiring in 1958 as Chief Boson Mate from his position at CINCPAC Fleet. He worked 25 years as the manager of the Pearl Harbor, Auto Hobby Shop. He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and one of the original founding Directors of the Arizona Memorial Museum Foundation, the predecessor to the Arizona Memorial Museum Association (AMMA) and Chairman Emeritus and active Member of the Board of the Directors at AMMA. He was Director Emeritus for Branch 46 of the Fleet Reserve Association, Life Member of the American legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars holding numerous offices and positions of leadership over the past half-century.

He was born September 23, 1918 in Joplin, MO to the late Veta Elvenia Rader and Jesse Thomas Saunders. It was the United States Navy that brought him to the island of Oahu.

He was the patriarch of a large and loving family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Lois Barbara Jean Shonk, and their five children, Sheila Mae Saunders, Orlena Saunders of Hemet, CA, Paula Contreras, Alby L. Saunders, and Lydia DeBay (Dennis) of Franklin, KY. 13 grandchildren, Angela Sexton (Joe) of Seattle, WA, William Brewster of Bremerton, WA, Jaylynn Brewster of Bremerton, WA; Danny Stuart of Galitin, TN, Dennis Stuart (Noreen) of Las Vegas, NV, Gerald Ray Stuart, Jr. (Georgina) of Las Vegas, NV, Lorena Sawyer
of Hemet, CA; Mercedes Contreras, Peter Contreras (Jennifer) of Las Vegas, NV, Belinda Contreras of Sacramento, CA, Kimberly Contreras of San Francisco, CA, David Contreras, Anthony Ortega of Sylmar, CA; Alby Saunders (Julia) of Hixson, TN, and Heather Saunders of Denton, TX; and some 20 great grandchildren; sisters Valaska Jackson of Great Bend, KS; Betty Jo Blevins of Yakima, WA; and Ruby Stevens of Harwood, TX and brothers Bobby Lee Flickinger (Dottie) of Garfield, AK, Jerry Flickinger (Eugenia) of Yakima, WA, and Donal Flickinger. The eldest of thirteen, he was preceded in death by his brothers Charles Henderson, Marvin Flickinger, J. Louis Flickinger; and sisters Beulah Maxine Flickinger, Bessie Jean Flickinger, and Billie Ruth Flickinger.

Ansil "Sandy" Saunders, a founding director of the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, passed away May 25, 2006. A Memorial Ceremony was held on the back lanai of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center on May 31, 2006 to commemorate his extraordinary life.

Interment was held in a private service on Saturday, June 3rd at 12:00 noon, Oahu Cemetery. Due to his dedication and enduring work in rebuilding the shore side Visitors Center at the Arizona Memorial, it was Sandy's wish that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund in Memory of Sandy Saunders, One Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818, (866) 332-1941.

Testimonials:
My Great Grandpa Ansil L. Saunders(Sandy)is still loved today. I live in CA but i did come to visit him during his last week or so. His funeral was very honoring, he would be very proud of us, expecially my grandma(Orlena O. Saunders) and my uncle (Alby L. Saunders). He was a very great, loving, caring kind of person who would be glad t help almost anyone. He was oh so perfect and beautiful, I loved his really cool mustache that he woke up and waxed every morning. He really loved chocolate, so every occasion we would send him a ton( Once we send him a chocolate hershy bar about half his size, literally half his size). I love him very much and he was a very important man, everyone will rememebr him hopefully forever, And for everone who came to visit him in the hospital he would have been so thankful for you caring and woundering how he was. We used to go to the Fleet Reserve with him(He was in a club there)and our favorite waiter was so sweet and funny her name was Miss. Kim. Well i just wanted to let you all know that he was a very important and nice man who served in the pearl harbor war and servived, and that he loved everyone. Everyone will miss and love him forever, hes forever in my heart and i am very affectionate to, and fortunate to have his handkerchief and teddy bear(named fuzzy wuzzy), and a few of his coins he collected. Hehas passed them down to me for me to have and i do support them with the most love. I called him Granpa Daddy and still do till this very day, His wife Lois Saunders will soon remember he has passed away, and has gone to a better place, but rigt now she has short turm memory and she doesnt remember going to his service but she will soon remember because she gets reminded every day. He is survived by all of his friends and family and wil be by any future children of younger members of the family also. Well im sorry i have to make this short, this isnt all of it and words cant explain how mch i love him so im going to end this now. i love him always and forever and i miss him so much, more then anyone will ever know. Testiment by Savannah Shelene Sawyer, One of his great grandchilden , good bye for now because im getting just a bit teary eyed from this. I just wanted to let everyone know who he is and say who loves him, sorry if i left out anybody just know you love him and he loves you Rest I Peace Ansil.(Sandy).L. Saunders. I love And Miss you so much, see you later, everyone will. Love,Forever and on...

Savannah Sawyer - Hemet,CA

Tribute Goal: $20000.00

Donations Raised*: $2450.00