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William D. Sanders, Jr.


Sunrise: August 11, 1942

Sunset: October 16, 2019

Our beloved William Delano Sanders Jr., peacefully passed away in his home in Portsmouth Virginia on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.  William’s best friend and loving wife Juliaette, compassionate sister-in-law, Jeannette and his four legged loyal companion Sofi, was by his side when God lifted His wholly arms around William to rest.

William was born August 11, 1942 in Toledo Ohio to his loving parents William Delano Sanders Senior and Ruby Elizabeth Sanders, who have both preceded him in death. In 1960, at the age of 18, William left his home and joined the United States Navy.  After boot camp and medical training, William was assigned to the Naval Hospital in Norfolk until 1964. After which, William was transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to train with the United Stated Marines for the “Vietnam Conflict”.

From March 6 1967 to March 1 1968, William was assigned to US Naval Support Activity Station (NSA) in Danang, Vietnam. The NSA camp was uncomfortably located between to the South China Sea and at the foot of Son Tra Mountain (which was named Monkey Mountain by American Troops) in an old French Army Camp, Camp Tien Sha. In the year William was assigned to the NSA, it was documented that over 17,000 patients were admitted to the makeshift hospital from June 1967 to May 1968.

As an advanced hospital corpsman and as a medical field service technician in the Navy, William was a “subject matter expert” for hospital corpsman as well as sometimes being the sole medical presence in certain situations. In Vietnam, Corpsman were called “Doc” by the Marines they went on detail with.  Corpsman like William, were protected by Marines as they had the skills to save their lives. William went where “His” Marines went; if the Marines were in danger, so was he. No matter what the circumstance he and his Marines found themselves, if William heard the words “Corpsman Up!” William had to get to his man and treat him which, is where he learned how to be calm under pressure.

After his tour in Vietnam, William received the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 60.  William earned

After William’s tour of duty in Vietnam, he was allowed to “rest” by being sent for more medical training and stateside assignments for almost 10 years.

In July 23rd, 1978, William was assigned to USS Aylwin (FF-1081) Knox-class Frigate (warship), launched August 29, 1970, it was the fourth vessel named for John Cushing Aylwin. The ship’s motto was “Courage Conquers the Impossible”, which is how William lived his life. During the two years on sea duty, he and his fellow sailors, visited ports such as Spain, Greece, Israel, and Egypt. They conducted joint exercises with NATO forces, the French Navy as well as Saudi forces. On November 4, 1979, the sailors of the USS Aylwin were ordered from Arabian Peninsula to Iran to conduct surveillance and patrol duties after it was learned that the United States embassy in Tehran was taken and held captive 52 American Diplomats, citizens and military.

In 1983, William honorably retired from active duty, his last duty station was the ADM Joel T. Boone Health Clinic on the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek Virginia. William purchased 1041 Ann Street in Portsmouth, Virginia because his home reminded him of his childhood home in Toledo, Ohio.

In 1992, William managed to sweep Juliaette off of her feet in a whirlwind romance which turned into a love that lasted over 26 years. On December 19, 1992, William and Juliaette married in the house he loved, surrounded by family and friends.

Even though retired, William never let grass grow beneath his feet. William frequented the local military Exchange and Commissary so much that was known by name and greeted almost everywhere he went.  Before Gen Xers and hipsters thought it “cool” and before the millennials coined the term “thrift store chic”, you could find William browsing the thrift stores searching for hidden gems any day of the week. William was a master electronics tinkerer, he loved to buy old computers second hand then rebuild them like new.

William and the love of his life, Juliaette, loved to sit back and watch boxing matches together. It didn’t matter if the boxers were Olympic armatures or professional heavy weight fighters, William loved to watch them all.

William also loved to collect albums and cassette tapes and had a pretty expansive assortment of “oldie but goodies” music which was always playing in his “man cave”. Honesty, William’s Princess, and Honesty’s Granddaddy used to sing “I Feel Good” by James Brown, every day as he drove her to elementary school.

Outside of their hobby of spoiling their grandchildren, the couple also loved to relax and watch the great R&B groups of the past. Just recently, William and Juliette watched the Temptations and other greats on a PBS special. We would be remiss if William’s other love was not mentioned: SWEETS! On a sweet tooth scale from 1 to 10, 1 being you can take it or leave it, William would rate a 14 on his slow days. There was never a Twinkie, pound cake or pie William didn’t love.

He leaves to cherish his memory, the love of his life, wife, Juliaette Sanders of Portsmouth, VA, four children, Bill (wife) of Toledo OH, and Stepdaughters Sonya Boone of Hampton VA, Monette Bryant of Nashville TN and Sonette Singleton (Shawn) of the District of Columbia, 10 Grandchildren, Sa’Von Sanders, Sasha Sanders, Honesty Cook, Julian Sanders, Nickolas Boone, Cameron Bryant, Alana Bryant, Aayaliah Robinson, Noah Soriano and great-grand child, Ashton Williams, brother Richard Sanders and sisters, Valerie Love and Carolyn Baker of Ohio, his favorite sister-in law, Jeanette of Norfolk, VA and a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins and  great friends that love and will truly miss him.

 

 

Viewing Tuesday, October 22, 2019 Metropolitan Funeral Service 5605 Portsmouth Boulevard Portsmouth, VA 23701 Service WATCH SERVICE LIVE ONLINE Wednesday, October 23, 2019 1:00pm Metropolitan Funeral Service Portsmouth Chapel Interment Albert G. Horton Veteran's Cemetery 5310 Milners Road Suffolk, VA 23434

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