Thomas Theodore Saunders
Passed away peacefully on May 30th, 2024, at the age of 99.
Survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Edith Doreen Saunders, sister Betty Jean Fair, his children Janice Alansari (Hilmi), Darrell Saunders (Allie), and Julie Durrant, four Grandchildren and six Great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Born in Seattle, WA. His family moved to Victoria, B.C. when he was a young boy. He spent many a day at Cadboro Bay playing at the beach where his grandparents had a little store. He always had a love for the water and built his first boat at the age of 16! He went to school at Victoria High and left early to start an apprenticeship as a draftsman at Yarrows Shipbuilding. He met the love of his life Edith one night after roller skating, and they were married in Victoria in 1950. Later in 1958 he accepted a job at National Steel Shipbuilding and the family moved to San Diego, CA for a brief time, and soon after to Seattle WA. He worked at Spaulding Naval Architects for 10 years before forming his own company, Marine Engineering Consultants. In 1975 he accepted a position as Chief Estimator at Northwest Marine Iron Works in Portland Oregon. After retirement in 1989 Tom and Edith moved back to WA to be closer to family. Tom was always around the water and owned numerous boats in his life. Many summer vacations were spent cruising the waters of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. He had a love for gardening and was always busy testing soil and getting just the right mixture for planting his next crop of vegetables or flowers. He also had a love for his Seattle Mariners. He attended Spring Training in Peoria AZ
numerous times and was always interested in a conversation about the latest games, players traded or signed, and scores from yesterday’s game!
He had an amazing life and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A Celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
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