Larry L. Sanders, 71, of Mentone passed away on Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2015 at Peabody Retirement Community of North Manchester.

Born in Fulton County on Jan. 3, 1944, Larry Lin Sanders was a treasured son of Ervin Jay and Josephine E. Utter Sanders. Growing up in Richland Township he shared his childhood with two sisters Connie and Kay and a brother Marvin.

During his high school years, he attended Richland Center then his senior year transferred to Rochester High School. Larry excelled in sports pitching baseball, and playing forward/guard for the Zebra basketball team. In the spring of 1962, Larry sailed over the high jump bar, shattering the RHS and Fulton County record at 6′ 1″ .

Later Larry ventured westward and attended Western New Mexico University. He continued his formal education at Arizona State. Patriotism beckoned and Larry answered the call serving our country with the United States Army during the Vietnam war.

On Sep. 8, 1979, in Bryant, Larry married the love of his life Marjorie Welling Sanders. Together they shared over 35.5 years of life’s adventures. From their union came three beautiful daughters. The family tree continued to grow with the arrival of two precious granddaughters.

As a union plumber and pipefitter, Larry was a member of locals # 172 and # 597. Over the years he was a licensed plumbing contractor and served Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation as maintenance director for more than a decade, retiring in 2009.

Larry enjoyed fishing and he embraced the outdoors. He along with accomplice Dave Burkett enjoyed many fishing expeditions to the pristine lakes of Minnesota. Hitting the links, Tom Sawyer was seated next to him in their golf cart. Playing rounds on local courses was fun.

Providing the greatest challenges were the courses they visited during excursions to Las Vegas. Each autumn, as an arm chair quarterback, Larry was locked on to Notre Dame football.

Living in a house divided he occasionally cheered for Indiana University and Purdue, expressing loyalty for his daughters who attended the respective schools. There were many spirited croquet competitions hosted in either his or grandma’s backyard.

Known as the family handyman, Larry could fix literally anything. A man of perpetual motion he was always ready to generously share his talents with family and friends. From his woodshop located in the garage, Larry created and built many gifts for his family—from rocking horses, a rocking crib to benches; if they dreamed it he built it.
Left to cherish Larry’s memory are is wife Marj at home, three daughters Jennifer (Charles) Lynn Manns, Ossian, Kristen Leigh Sanders and Kelly Marie Sanders, both of Atlanta, Ga. two granddaughters Kate Josephine Manns, age 5, and Lila Marie Manns, age 3; two sisters Connie (Jim) Walters, Kay (Marvin) Davis, both of Rochester, a brother Marvin Sanders, Ruidosa, N.M., his mother Josephine Sanders, Rochester, five sisters-in-law, Cathy (Mike) Bettinger, Geri (Mark) Mestemaker, Judy (Roger) Wellman, Joanne (Greg) Alig, Linda (Kevin) Wellman; three brothers-in-law Robert “Bob” (Rose) Welling, David (Colleen) Welling and Paul (Mary) Welling; and the Best mother-in-law he ever had Mary Ellen Welling; also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Preceding him in death are his father Ervin Jay Sanders, Feb. 28, 2000, father-in-law Marcel Welling July 9, 2012 and a sister-in-law Patsy Sanders.

A celebration of the life of Mr. Larry Lin Sanders will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th Street, Rochester with Rev. Mike Smith officiating.

Friends may visit with the family from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and an hour prior to services. Burial will follow in the Rochester IOOF Cemetery. Military graveside rites will be accorded by the Fulton County Honor Guard and the U.S. Army Military Rites Team. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Mary and Jerrys Helping Hands 10274 West 600 South, Mentone, IN 46539, Tippecanoe Valley Boomerang Backpack Program thru the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Inc. 102 East Market Street, Warsaw, IN, 46580, or to the Peabody Retirement Community Smock Memory Center Caregivers Gift in care of Marjorie Sanders.