Charles L. Sanders

A Chapel Service for Master Sergeant Charles L. Sanders, 79, retired U.S.A.F. and Clinton resident will be held 2:00 P.M., Monday, December 30, 2014 in the Kiesau memorial Chapel, officiated by Rev. Roland Youngberg. Burial will follow with Military Honors in the Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford, OK under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Charles Leroy Sanders was born May 23, 1935 to Roy and Sylvia (Hayden) Sanders in Weatherford, Oklahoma and passed away, Friday, December 26, 2014 in the Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK. He was raised in Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 1954. He soon enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and Boot Camp at Pendleton, California. He also did combat training, graduating in October of 1954. He went to Japan with the 3rd Marine Division for 18 months and returned back to Camp Pendleton to receive his Engineering training. He was assigned as Personal Aid to General Ridgley, the Commanding General of Camp Pendleton. He was discharged from the U.S.M. Corp in May of 1958 and then immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at the Clinton Sherman Air Force Base as an engineer until March of 1959. He was transferred to Japan Engineering Squadron until March of 1959 and while stationed there he coached the Base Football Team until March of 1963. He then went to Shaw Air Force Base in 1963 and again he served with the Engineering Squadron. In 1963 he coached a Simi-Pro football team in Sumter, South Carolina. In August of 1966 he transferred to Cameron, Bay Viet Nam for an 18 month Stint and served with the Red Horse Engineering Squadron 555 Building Base Facilities and Runways. In 1967 he was assigned to Richard Gabour Engineering doing Inspection of Base Construction. He then returned to Bien Hoi Air Force Base in Viet Nam in 1968 being in charge of building Base Facilities and Chief Surveyor until October of 1969. He was married to Joann Kincaid in October of 1969 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joann and her children joined him on his final four year of overseas duty to Aviano, Italy Air Force Base where he was honored with a Bronze Star for meritorious Service as non-commissioned officer in Charge of the Site development Section 823rdf Civil engineering squadron, Republic of Viet Nam. While in Aviano, Italy he was Chief Construction Inspector and Base Football Coach for the Aviano Eagles. In 1973 he was transferred to Rantoul, IL for his last years of duty retiring in 1974at the rank of Master Sergeant. He moved his family back to Oklahoma and made their home in Clinton. He and his wife, operated the Clinton Lake KOA. He also attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University and received his Bachelor Degree in Bachelor of Arts in 1979. They also owned and operated the Sirloin of America Steak House in Weatherford. He enjoyed all sports, friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Joann of the home, son Brad Sanders and his wife, Traci, of Weatherford, and daughter Leigh Price and her husband, Ted, of Elk City, OK. He is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.