Rodger Dale Sanders

Rodger Dale Sanders, 79, of Otway, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at PruittHealth - Crystal Coast.

A funeral service to honor Rodgers’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 16th at Munden Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Ricky Rose. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Rodger will be laid to rest at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 17th at Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro. 

Rodger was born on September 3, 1944, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, to the late Murrell and Ruby Sanders. His leadership, kindness, and sense of responsibility were seen at the early age of 15 when he decided to end his schooling to take care of his mother and younger family members. Once his mother’s health improved and she was able to continue with the daily housework, Rodger decided to join the U.S. Navy. 

In January of 1962, at age 17, Rodger entered the Navy Bootcamp at Great Lakes, Illinois. Soon after in April of 1962, he came to North Carolina. It was here that he met his true love, Mary Ruth Willis. They wed shortly after on July 23, 1962, and were blessed with 58 years together before her passing in 2020. Their family grew to include 4 children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who he loved with all his heart. 

Those remaining to cherish his memory are his daughters, Patricia Lawrence and husband Rodney of Otway, Greta Sanders of Otway, and Brianna Willis of the home; sons, Rodger Sanders Jr. and wife Patsy of Gloucester and Ronald Sanders and wife Alison of Marshallberg; sisters, Sharon Skaggs and Jewel Rose, both of Missouri; brother, Lyle Sanders of South Carolina; grandchildren, Randa Rohrbaugh and husband Jason, Rodney Lawrence Jr. and wife Jamie, Mary Beth Foley and husband Devan, Samantha Guthrie and husband Cooper, Ronald Sanders Jr., Alex Sanders, Riley Davis, Guion Willis; great-grandchildren, Lauryssa Rohrbaugh, Cannon Lawrence, Daphne Lawrence, Emma Guthrie, and Cassie Guthrie; and faithful furry companion, Rocky.

In addition to his parents, Rodger was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 58 years, Mary Ruth Sanders, who passed away in 2020; sisters, Debbie Archer and Lois Causey; and brothers, Ronald Sanders and Leonard Sanders.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.