R. Curtis Saunders Jr., 86, passed away on Dec. 14, 2009. Born in Suffolk, Va., Curtis was the son of the late Ritchie Curtis Sr. and Edith Elmore Saunders, and was predeceased by a son, Carson Brewer (Sandy) Saunders and his brother, Robert Harrison Saunders. At the time of his death he was a consultant with Vico Construction, Inc. Curtis was graduated from Suffolk High School. He attended the University of North Carolina and was graduated from Randolph Macon College. He was a retired major with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in World War II and the Korean Conflict. Curtis was a lifelong member of Main Street United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the James L. McLemore Bible Class, former chairman of the Administrative Board and active on many other committees of the church. He served on the Louise Obici Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for 24 years and its Foundation Board for over 25 years. He was active on the Old Dominion Council Board of the Boy Scouts of America and served as a Commissioner. Curtis was a member of the Order of the Arrow and a Silver Beaver recipient. He was a Past President of the Suffolk Lions Club, the Virginia Road Builders Association, the Virginia Asphalt Association, and he served on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Transportation. He was a member of the American Legion Post 57.
Survivors in include his wife of 59 years, Martha Brewer Godwin Saunders; son, Whitney Godwin Saunders and his wife, Ellen Harrison Saunders, of Suffolk; grandchildren, Harrison Godwin Saunders, Mary-Carson Brewer Saunders, Grace Whitney Saunders, all of Suffolk; brother, Carson Elmore Saunders, of Emporia; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church. R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 West Washington Street, Suffolk, VA 23434 is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Suffolk Foundation, a community charitable trust, at 1426 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA 23434, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.