Melvin H. Sanders

Melvin H. Sanders NEWPORT, NH –Melvin Harold Sanders, of Woodlawn Care Center in Newport, New Hampshire, died peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, June 5th, with his daughter at his side. He was 82 years old. Melvin was born July 6th, 1941, in Peterborough, NH, to Edith Marion Sanborn, and Harold Francis Sanders. He spent his childhood years with his family in Peterborough and Keene and attended schools there and in Sunapee and Tilton, graduating from Tilton Northfield High School with the class of 1959. After graduation, Melvin spent time in basic training with the US Air Force, served a mission with the LDS Church in Washington state, and lived for a brief time with his family in Florida. After returning to New Hampshire, Melvin met Barbara Warner in Sunapee in 1969. They married later that year and moved to North Newport, where Melvin took a job with Sturm Ruger. The couple had four children together. After their divorce in 1977, Melvin relocated to Sunapee Harbor where he enjoyed running, hiking, biking to work, and swimming in the lake. He also loved camping and fishing, and took his four children on many memorable weekend camping excursions throughout New England, with the Eagles and Jackson Browne playing on the radio, and the canoe strapped to the top of the car. Contra dancing was another favorite activity for Melvin, as were his LDS Church singles outings, and many friends were made over the years as Melvin traveled to join in these activities near and far. Later in his life, Melvin moved to Brattleboro Vermont, took a job with CNS Wholesalers as a truck driver, and remarried, to Katherine Lovell of Dummerston. After their divorce, he relocated to Sunrise Village in Winchester, where he enjoyed quiet walks by the Ashuelot River and many visits from his children. He spent his final years at Woodlawn Care Center in Newport, and the family is deeply grateful for the attentive care he received while there. Melvin was predeceased by his youngest son, Thomas Warner Sanders, in 2014. He leaves behind his eldest son Daniel Dean Sanders and wife Melissa Boll, of Salt Lake City, Utah, his daughters Rebecca Jean Sanders and Amanda Eileen Sanders of West Tisbury, Massachusetts, his grandsons Cole Warner Sanders of Salt Lake City, Ronan Thomas Young of West Tisbury, Massachusetts, and first and second cousins in New Hampshire and beyond. A Celebration of Melvin’s life will be held by his family on Sunday August 25th in the Lake Sunapee region, location to be determined. Friends and family are invited to attend and asked to RSVP to Rebecca at [email protected] if interested. Melvin will be fondly remembered for sharing his love of nature, his sense of adventure, and the stories of his life with his four children. He will be dearly missed. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.newtonbartlett.com.