Thomas Dudley Saunders, 80, a resident of the Barbour County Good Samaritan Center and formerly of 313 Custer St. in Belington, was pronounced deceased upon arrival at 2:28 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, 2002, in the Broaddus Hospital emergency department, following an extended illness.
He was born April 3, 1922, at Healing Springs, Va., a son of the late Leland and Lula Thomas Saunders.
In 1947 at Healing Springs, Va., he was united in marriage to the former Hilda Phillips, who survives at Laurel View Apartments in Belington.
He is survived by one sister-in-law, Doreen Saunders; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three infant sisters and two brothers. He is the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Mr. Saunders attended the schools of Hot Springs, Va. He was a policeman at the Homestead Hotel in Hot Springs, Va. He had worked many years as a self-employed farmer in Volga.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army, having received the Purple Heart.
He was a lifelong member of the VFW Post 410 in Belington and was a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of the Hot Springs United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, Va.
Friends will be received at Talbott Funeral Home in Belington from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and Friday until 1 p.m., the funeral hour, when final rites will be conducted from the funeral home parlor with the Rev. Arden Beck officiating. Interment will follow in the West Virginia-grafton National Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 44 of Philippi. In lieu of flowers the family ask that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions in memory of Mr. Saunders to your favorite charity or organization.
