James D. Saunders

November 27, 1935 - August 5, 2021

Mr. James D. Saunders, age 86 of Loganville, passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. He was preceded in death by his Parents: Francis P. and Lois T. Saunders. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mrs. Tsuruko Matayoshi Saunders, Loganville, GA; sons, Robert J. Saunders, Cumming, GA, and David W. Saunders, Sugar Hill, GA; daughter, Suzanne E. Saunders, Sugar Hill, GA; Grandchildren, Johnathan Saunders and Andrew Saunders, Lawrenceville, GA, Robert and Apryll Saunders, Gainesville, GA, Craig Saunders, Sugar Hill, GA, and Heather Wise, Tucker, GA; Great Grandchildren, Landon, Brody, and Scarlett Saunders, Gainesville, GA, and Lilly Wise, Dacula, GA. Mr. Saunders was born November 27, 1935 at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He had degrees from Ripon College, Ripon, WI, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, and West Georgia University, Carrollton, GA. He was an Army veteran of the US Army Chemical Corps, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Saunders served in Okinawa, Japan where he met and married his wife Tsuruko. He went on to serve in Vietnam as well. Mr. Saunders then joined the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, serving 22 years, and retired as the Southeast Region’s Assistant Regional Administrator for Management Operations. During his retirement years, he used his gifts of administration to be the Church Administrator of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Grayson, GA, where he also served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and as Chairman of Deacons. He has also been active in the Okinawa Kenjin Kai of Atlanta, a cultural group for persons honoring the Okinawan heritage. His hobby was building military models and was a member of the International Plastic Modelers Society of Atlanta. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, 2299 Rosebud Road, Grayson, GA, with Dr. Chris Alexander officiating. Interment will follow in the Chestnut Grove Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the Family Life Center on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chestnut Grove Baptist Church Building Fund in memory of James D. Saunders.