Edith Saunders

Robert Harrison Saunders, 79, of Richmond and Currituck, N.C., died Thursday, Dec. 14.

A native of Suffolk, he attended Virginia Military Institute his freshman year and graduated from Randolph Macon College after serving two years in the U.S. Army. While attending Randolph Macon, he was a member of the football team, track team, and a brother of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He served as president of the Society of Alumni at Randolph Macon from 1993 to 1995, during which time he also served on the college's Board of Trustees and in 2006 was presented the Alumni Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of Westhampton United Methodist Church for 45 years. His professional life was spent with General Motors Acceptance Corporation from which he retired in 1983 after 30 years with the company.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anne Jarvis Saunders; a son, Rob Saunders and his wife Mary Ann, of Chesapeake; a daughter, Emily Saunders, of Richmond; two grandchildren, Martin and Christina Saunders; and two brothers and their wives, Curtis and Martha Saunders, of Suffolk, and Elmore and Jean Saunders, of Emporia. He enjoyed bridge, golf and fishing with friends, and most of all he loved time spent with family at the cottage on Currituck Sound.

The family will receive friends from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the Parham Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road, Richmond. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at Westhampton United Methodist Church in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Randolph Macon College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, Va. 23005 designated to the Robert H. Saunders Scholarship Fund or the charity of your choice.