The Rev. Stephen Carter Sanderson

Posted

OBIT-SANDERSON-IMG_4630Aug. 10, 1945 — May 22, 2016.

Stephen Carter Sanderson went to glory on May 22 at his home. He was 70 years old.

Steve was born on Aug. 10, 1945, to John A. Sanderson and Betty Jane Carter in Evanston, Ill.

Steve married Parma Lee Hoiles on April 28, 1967, at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, Ariz.

Most of Steve’s life was spent in Arizona. In 1963, he graduated from North Phoenix High School. In 1967, he received a degree in aeronautical technology from Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., and degrees in both computer science and welding from Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz., in 1992 and 2006. He worked as an aeronautical engineer at Ryan Aeronautical, San Diego, Calif., and Airesearch, Phoenix, Ariz.

In 1981, he graduated from The Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., and was ordained into the Holy Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanceville, Ala., where he served his first congregation.

Steve also served as pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma, Ariz., from 1986 to 2007 and as interim pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pagosa Springs after his retirement.

In addition to his family and his church, reading was Steve’s passion which led to an incredibly wide variety of avocations including computer science, welding, blacksmithing, amateur radio and photography. He enjoyed sailing, scuba diving and skiing. Steve ran over 3,000 miles in the course of 30 years, completing two marathons and numerous half-marathons. Steve served on the board of the Ruby Sisson Library in Pagosa Springs and was a long-time member of the American Radio Relay League.

Among survivors are his wife of 49 years, Parma Lee Sanderson, of Pagosa Springs; his children: Jeanette Lee Sanderson, of Gilbert, Ariz.; David Paul (Stephanie) Sanderson, of Northwood, N.H.; Amy Ruth (Scott) Brosnan, of Brookline, N.H.; his grandchildren: Stephen Rey Chavez, Emily Elena Chavez, Timothy Allen Sanderson, Nicholas Carter Sanderson, Jack Ian Brosnan and Kate Lauren Brosnan; and his aunt, Virginia Carter, of Lincoln Park, Ill. Steve was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Scott.

Funeral services will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pagosa Springs, on Friday, May 27, at 11 a.m., with visitation at 10:30 a.m. Steve will be buried at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Hanceville, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanceville, Ala.; Calvary Lutheran Church, Yuma, Ariz.; Our Savior Lutheran Church Music and Worship Fund, Pagosa Springs.