East Bethany - John Ralph Sanders, 75, of East Bethany, passed on Thursday (April 24, 2014) at the Genesee County Nursing Home in Batavia.
Mr. Sanders was born February 3, 1939 in Batavia, a son of the late Ralph E. and Ruth (Torrey) Sanders.
John was a lifelong Bethany farmer, having retired from LorRob Farm in 2014. John served on the Bethany Town Zoning Board of Appeals and was a trustee and moderator of the official board at the West Bethany Baptist Church. He was a 1957 graduate of Alexander School. John was known for his infectious laugh and generous spirit.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Linda (Roth) Warner Sanders; six children, David (Dale) Warner of Rochester, Tammy (Vincent) Foster of Attica, Penny (Mark) Riekstins of S.A., Australia, Shelley (Greg) Shultz of Camden, NY, Mary Jane (Dr. William) Coles of St. Croix, V.I. and Darcy (James) Slusser of Silver Springs; a sister, Alice (Richard) Good of Hurst, TX, mother-in-law, Jane Howard of LeRoy, several grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and special friends Steve Breckenridge and Roland Cox.
He is predeceased by an infant brother, Jerry Lee, a brother Charles and a sister Jean Sanders Surratt.
Calling hours are Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main St., Batavia. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the West Bethany Baptist Church, 10333 West Bethany Road, East Bethany. Burial will be in East Bethany Cemetery. At the conclusion of the services on Saturday, the reception will be held at the West Bethany Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, 5253 Old Telephone Road, East Bethany, NY 14054, Buffalo City Mission, 100 East Tupper St., Buffalo, NY 14203 or the Memory Care Unit at the Genesee County Nursing Home, 278 Bank St., Batavia, NY 14020.
Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
