Francis Arnold Sanders

Francis Arnold Sanders

Francis Arnold Sanders, 100, of Pottstown, PA, passed away on Wednesday May 6, 2020. 

He was the husband of previously deceased Mary E. Sanders. 

Born November 18, 1919, he was the son of the late John Angus Sanders and Nora Elizabeth Sanders of Bamberg, SC. 
Francis graduated from Bamberg High School in 1937, followed by graduation from The Citadel, Charleston, SC in 1941 as a civil engineer.
He and Mary were married on September 11, 1941.

Francis entered World War II in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army-Air Force. He continued his military career as an engineer in the Air Force. Francis served during three wars primarily with duties at all levels of command in construction, operations and maintenance. While serving in the Air Force, he went on to earn a Master Degree in Civil Engineering and subsequently a PhD in Civil Engineering both from Purdue University. He worked at Air Force Bases in India, Japan, Hawaii (before it became a State) and other States. Near the end of his military career, he worked at the Pentagon. Francis retired from the Air Force in 1966 with the rank of Colonel.

After retirement from the military, Francis and his family moved to West Chester, PA where he continued his work in engineering as Vice President at Roy F. Weston Engineering, West Chester, PA. Later he became President of Betz Environmental Engineers, Inc., located in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

In 1978, Francis retired from Betz Environmental Engineering, Inc. and continued to live with his family in West Chester, PA. His last home was in Pottstown, PA. Altogether, Francis and Mary lived together in about 25 different locations.

Francis enjoyed furniture making, decoy carving and renovating their 200-year old home in West Chester, PA, while enjoying his marriage of 76 years with Mary, all his family and friends he had throughout his life. He was a devoted member of the Baptist Church of West Chester in West Chester, PA. 

Francis is survived by his daughters Beth Bowling (Tim) of Portsmouth, VA, and Susan Specht (David) of Pottstown, PA, and his son Francis Sanders, Jr. (Alice) of Normal, IL, and grandchildren Paige Mark (John) of Tulsa, OK, Terry Bowling (Melanie) of Canton, GA, Tim Bowling (Korren) of Marietta, GA, Chad Sanders (Carolyn) of Bloomington, IL, Drew Sanders of Joliet, IL, Shayne Mackey of West Chester, PA and Josh Mackey of Pottstown, PA, Jenna Campbell (Jon) of Buffalo, NY, Jacie Specht of Nashville, TN, and 15 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Francis was preceded in death by his brothers J.A. Sanders, Clarence Sanders, Fred Sanders, Claude Sanders and William Sanders.

A Private Interment will be held with family at Washington’s Crossing National Cemetery on Thursday May 14, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania c/o Children's Fund, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104.  

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com