Tom Sanders, 99, of Wichita Falls, passed away on December 27, 2021.

Memorial services will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, January 7th, at the Church of the Good Shepherd with Reverend Brian Chase officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.

The son of the late William Sanders and Sarah (Betterton), Tom was born on May 8, 1922, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1941, and attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, for two years before transferring to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1946 (class of 1947) with a degree in Engineering.

After graduation, Tom was commissioned as an Ensign and served in the Navy in the Pacific in various roles at the end of World War II, until his voluntary discharge in 1949, when he was released from active duty and went into the Naval Reserves.  He was recalled to active duty in 1952 as a Lieutenant and assigned to the Mine Force in the Atlantic Fleet until 1953, when he returned to the Naval Reserves. In 1948, he married Carolyn Coleman, with whom he enjoyed 73 years of marital bliss. He and Carolyn moved permanently to Wichita Falls in 1953, where Tom started a career in the oil business under the guidance of Carolyn's father J. Pickens Coleman.  Tom became an independent oil producer in Wichita Falls and maintained an office downtown until his death.

He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, setting a high bar for love, honesty, ethical behavior and excellence in all ways.  He was an avid handyman, able to maintain a variety of mechanical and electrical contraptions.  He loved spending time at the family cabin in Colorado.  The story is that he married Carolyn to spend time at the cabin, and Carolyn married Tom to maintain it.  In addition to cabin maintenance, he enjoyed fly fishing, hiking, backpacking and other outdoor activities afforded by the southern Colorado mountains.  Tom and Carolyn were enthusiastic pilots, both of whom earned their pilot licenses and instrument ratings.  They enjoyed flying all over North America, including to and from the cabin.  In 1981, Tom flew in the New York to Paris leg of the air race that was part of the bi-annual Paris Air Show.  The plane won first place in their class.  Tom and Carolyn enjoyed travelling around the world, including countries on 6 continents.  In fact, there weren't many activities that they didn't enthusiastically engage in together.  He was an exemplary husband and father and friend who set a standard we could all aspire to.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters Betsy Schweizer and Mary Ingram.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Carolyn; his daughter Carol Rasmus and her husband Robert Rasmus of Chicago, Illinois; his son Blair Sanders and his wife Deborah Orrill of Dallas, Texas; cherished grandchildren, Garrett Rasmus of Houston, Texas, and Blair Rasmus and Blair's wife Caitlin of Long Beach, California; nephews John Ingram of Granbury, Texas, Tom Ingram of Tyler, Texas, Bernard Carroll of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Gary Coleman of Woodlands, Texas; and nieces Betsy Harris and her husband Donald of Tyler, Texas, Mary Dickerson and her husband Scott of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Sarah Morse and her husband Guy of Cleburne, Texas, and Camille Hiltz of Maitland, Florida.

The family extends their appreciation to the wonderful caregivers who provided much love and support to Tom: Irma Saenz, Suzanne Priddy, Freddie Randle, Kristine Chapa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Midwestern State University general scholarship fund ( Memorial/Honor Donations (touchnet.com) ), Hospice of Wichita Falls ( Donate - Hospice of WF (howf.org) ) or The U.S. Naval Academy ( https://www.usna.com/give ).