William Eugene Sanders, Sr.

William E. Sanders, Sr., age 83, passed away at Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro on March 6, 2017. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 3:00 pm at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Lynda Ferguson and Dr. Donald Haynes officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro. Bill was born November 16, 1933 in Asheboro, North Carolina, the youngest of four sons of the late Arthur Ira Sanders and Piccola Loftin Sanders. He was married for 59 years to his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Sumner. They lived for forty-two years in Greensboro, where they were members of St. Paul Presbyterian Church. While a member at St. Paul, Bill served as church treasurer, deacon, and elder. He was also active in the Little League program sponsored by the Hamilton Lake Civitans. Upon moving back to his hometown of Asheboro, he and Elizabeth joined the First United Methodist Church of Asheboro where they were married in 1957. Bill was a charter member of Calvary Methodist Church in North Asheboro. Bill graduated from Asheboro High School in 1952 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 1956. At UNC, he was active in Student Government, the Cross Country team, and Chi Phi Fraternity, where he served as an officer and rush chairman. He was a member of the ROTC program at UNC, and served on active duty with Courts and Boards after graduating. An ardent supporter of the University, he served as co-chairman of Alumni Annual Giving in the Greensboro region. Bill co-founded S&W Distributors, Inc. in 1964, and served as chief executive officer for over 40 years. During his time, S&W received six national awards from publishers. The state of Kentucky awarded him an Honorary Ambassador of Labor and Kentucky Colonel. He was awarded an honorary member of Lieutenant Governor's staff for the state of Louisiana. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Dr. William E. Sanders, Jr. and wife, Peg of Bethesda, MD and Dr. George H. S. Sanders and wife, Julie of High Point, NC; four grandchildren, Christine Walker and husband, David, of Charlotte, William E. Sanders, III and wife Amanda of Ft. Thomas, KY, David Sanders of Birmingham, AL and John Sanders of La Plata, MD; and three great grandchildren, Virginia and Jackson Walker and Marissa Sanders. A visitation will be held Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church Parlor. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 224 North Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203. Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is serving the family.