Melvin Royal Sanders

Melvin Royal Sanders, 88, of Moore, Oklahoma, entered into eternal life on November 7, 2012. He was born on June 30, 1924, in Greenway, Arkansas, to Leona and Judge Sanders. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Daryl and Noel. Melvin married Gurtha Jane Bellers on September 2, 1945. They had three children: Mary Jane Hamblen, Mark Sanders and Cindy Sanders. He had eight grandchildren: Paul, Angela, Amanda, Adam, Meredith, Amber, Michael and Lindsey, and six great-grandchildren: Shaun, Morgan, Liam, Cody, Ava and Marcus. Melvin served our country as a decorated WW II Veteran, and received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other awards. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 as a Private. After completion of the Officer's Candidate Course in France in 1945, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry. He was released from Active Duty in 1946 and transferred into USARR, retiring as a Major. He completed Arkansas State Police Training School in 1947, Basic Course for Police Officers in 1954, and International Railroad Police Academy in 1964. Melvin worked for the Frisco Railroad from 1951 to 1979 as a Special Agent. He retired at 55 years of age, when Burlington Northern merged with Frisco, spending over 30 years in retirement. Funeral services for Melvin will be held at the Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home, Saturday, November 10, 2012, at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association, Oklahoma and Arkansas Chapter, Inc., 2448 E. 81st Street, Suite 3000, Tulsa, Okla. 74137, or at www.alzokar.org. Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott, Arkansas is in charge of the arrangements. Online guestbook: www.hoggardfuneralhome.com.