William K. Sanders

William K. Sanders, 84, of Lancaster, died Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at the Hospice and Community Care Center in Mount Joy.

He was born in Scranton, PA. Bill lived in and around Scranton in his youth, attending a one-room schoolhouse in Daleville, Pennsylvania while living on his grandparent’s farm. He often said that he never had a taste for chicken after watching their demise as a child. In seventh grade marching as a Boy Scout in a Scranton parade, he paired off with Girl Scout Maryella Ehrhardt and they sat together in the bleachers igniting a love affair that never ended.

Reflecting his love of competition, napkins at his house on Thunderbird Lane in Lancaster announced, “Fun and Games, at Bill and Mames.” He was a standout athlete in high school at football, basketball and swimming/diving. An avid golfer he had six holes-in-one, was a scratch golfer at the height of his game, and greatly enjoyed playing in the Lanco Open. He also played basketball at the YMCA and on industrial league teams, including the Lancaster Big Five, which at one time played before the Baltimore Bullets’ games. He once played against Wilt Chamberlain in a game at Norristown High. He also loved to play cards –bridge when he was younger and Gin Rummy his whole life.

Bill had an enormous appetite for life talking to everyone he met, which served him well in business. After attending the University of Scranton and completing Navy Flight School in Pensacola, he started out working for Universal CIT. In 1956, he and his family moved to Lancaster to work for Wolf Motors, a Ford dealership, and he later became its owner. After selling Wolf Motors he became an entrepreneur.

Bill served as an usher at the First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, and served on many community boards including the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster and the Lancaster YMCA. Bill made and lost fortunes, competed and loved, and made friends where ever he was — right through hospice.

He is survived by Maryella Ehrhardt Sanders, his loving wife of 62 years; his son William Ehrhardt Sanders and his wife Marlene Smith Sanders of Lancaster; daughter Christine Powers and her husband Richard Powers of Lancaster; and son Wardell Sanders and his wife Erica Rubine of Lambertville, New Jersey; and grandchildren Richard Garrity Powers, Daniel Patrick Powers, William Lloyd Powers, Lily Joy Sanders, and Ian Stuart Sanders. He is predeceased by his parents, William Ansted Sanders and Jessie Kaufman Sanders; a brother James Lincoln Sanders; and a daughter, Joy Susan Sanders Gordinier.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:30 P.M. at the Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, 141 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA with the Rev. Edward A. Dickel officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2:30 P.M. until the time of the service. Please omit flowers. If desired contributions in Mr. Sanders’ memory may be made to the Lancaster Boys and Girls Club, P.O. Box 104, Lancaster, PA 17608, the Lancaster YMCA, 265 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603 or to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.

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