G. William Sayers, 96, North Manchester, died at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester. 

He was born Sept. 4, 1919 in Lawrenceville, Ohio to Charles S and Virlie K. (Dresher) Sayers.

Bill was a living example of the power of gratitude, gratitude for everyone and everything.  He served our country in WWII and was grateful for the benefits paid to veterans. He valued his service at Manchester College where he taught economics for five years and coached the tennis team for 15 years. Then he entered the life insurance business and became a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table. During this time he provided the first office space for Heifer Project International on Ruse Street in North Manchester. He also served as the chairman of the Columbus Life Underwriters. To assist others with his expertise he served in the Retired Executive Service Corps for two years in Indonesia to create a thriving insurance company in Bandung.

Throughout his life the game of tennis was a passion. He played, coached, and officiated at the U.S. Open for three years and at Wimbledon for two years. At the age of 90 he competed in the National Senior Olympic in tennis earning a silver medal in doubles.

Bill was married to Evelyn Studebaker Jan. 1, 1942 until her death May 9, 2008. He fathered five daughters, three of whom survive him: Beverly (Joel) Eikenberry, North Manchester; Judy (George) Soller, Bexley, Ohio; and Victoria (Craig) Smith, Elizabethtown, Penn. 

Daughters Evonne (Ron) Studebaker and Sandra (Jim) Comerford preceded him in death. 

He was grandfather to 17:  Ranya (Rich Tylka) Studebaker, Tarik (Michelle) Studebaker, Kendra (Brent) Sherman, Chad (Tracy) Studebaker, Jill (Dan) Schreiber, Brad (Tami) Comerford, Julie (Marcus) Johnston, Brendan (Christy) Comerford, Torin (Carrie) Eikler, Joshua (Saro Buettner) Eikenberry, Austin (Brooke) Eikenberry, Derek Soller, Brent (Kerry) Soller, Kimberly (Mark) Eller, Steffanie Marion, Nicole (Brian) Schmidt, Tanya (Kenneth) Stewart; and great-grandfather to 46.

Bill was a member of the Columbus Athletic Club, a trustee of the Cathedral of Prayer Association, and a member of Bexley United Methodist Church where he was trained as a Steven Minister at the age of 94.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6, 2016 at Bexley United Methodist Church, Bexley, Ohio. Those attending are invited to lunch following the service. Rev. Becky Piatt and Rev. Craig H. Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Lawrenceville Cemetery, Lawrenceville, Ohio at a later date. 

Being a man of strong Christian faith, Bill would be honored to have family and friends contribute out of gratitude to the Cathedral of Prayer, Rt. #4 Box 270, Elkins, WV 26241;  Bexley United Methodist Church, 2657 E. Broad Street, Bexley, OH 43209; or Peabody Home Foundation, 400 West Seventh St, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.

Arrangements entrusted to McKee Mortuary, North Manchester.