Remember When: The legacy of the Sanders Family of Washington Avenue

J. Vernon Halteman, Earle R. Johnson, Dale R. Orr, Charles F. Sanders, James H. Sheridan, and Frank E. Smith were listed together in the 1932 Lancaster City Directory. Readers may recognize the connection of these names with businesses existing in the recent past or even today – some 90+ years later. They were funeral directors located in Lancaster, and their occupations fulfilled an important role in the lives of our citizens. This writer recognized all but Charles Sanders from previous research.

Charles F. Sanders (1879-1958) was born in Gallia Co., OH, and was working as a funeral director in Columbus by 1920. He had moved to 205 Washington Ave. in Lancaster by 1930 and was Proprietor of the West Side Undertaking Co. In 1931 he advertised “Adult funerals as low as $70.00.” On July 11, 1933 (Daily Eagle) he announced his ambulance was “equipped with first aid accessories and all calls within the city limits will be answered without charge.”

Charles would use his ambulance in August 1942 to transport his 17-months-old niece Mary Anne to the hospital. She had wandered onto the right-of-way of a railroad track that ran by their home to play in the sand and gravel about 10:30 a.m. A passenger train approached at a slow speed, and it was believed its front step knocked her off the rail. Her father had been looking for her at the time the accident occurred. “Taken to Lancaster hospital in the Charles Sanders ambulance, the child was given first aid and discharged,” reported the E-G (26 Aug. 1942).

Charles and his wife were also credited with organizing the Lancaster Mutual Burial Association in 1934. He died in 1958 while residing at 209 Washington Ave.

Charles’ younger brother, Hollis W. Sanders (1900-1989) married Gladys Dupler from Rockbridge in 1924. The 1930 Census listed Hollis’ occupation as sorter at the Lancaster Rubber Works, and that there were four children in the home at that time. Their family was selected for a feature story in the Daily Eagle (17 April 1934) titled: “Young Lancaster Mother Shows Pluck and Ambition in Securing Education for Children and Self.” Gladys was 30 years old and working to complete her high school education. During the Depression her husband Hollis “had experienced the uncertainty of employment…When employment seemed beyond hope, Mr. Sanders worked for farmers taking his wages in hogs, which were in turn fed by corn earned in the same way.” His wife then canned the pork at butchering time for future use.

The article also highlighted the family’s musical talents. “Mrs. Sanders plays the piano quite well, while her husband is a violinist of no small ability and their children are being schooled along musical lines, so perhaps there may be a Sanders orchestra someday.”

The first four children were: Scott Paul, Lloyd E., Ruth Gladys, and Neil H., and they were joined by Mary Anne and Martha Mae. By 1940 the family was living at 207 Washington Ave. Hollis W. Sanders owned and operated a furniture store at 205-207 Washington Ave. by 1957, and then by 1961 the Sanders Furniture and Music store was opened at 205-209 by son Scott Sanders. Scott moved the store to a new location at 1084 S. Columbus Street in the LS complex in Nov. 1967. Hollis W. & Gladys Sanders, however, were still residing in their 209 Washington Ave. home in 1974, when the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their six children and their families.

Yes, there were several generations of funeral directors in this family. Remember little Mary Anne Sanders mentioned above? She married Thomas Theller in 1961. He assumed ownership of the Wise-Theller Funeral Home in 1973 when Ray H. Wise retired. They had three children and son Thomas H. Theller II is now Funeral Director and owner of the Taylor-Theller Funeral Home in Amanda.

The Sanders families have provided caring service to local communities for many generations, and just as the 1934 newspaper article foresaw a “Sanders family orchestra,” members of the Sanders families have also shared extraordinary musical talents with their community in a variety of ways. Mary Anne Sanders Theller started the Fairfield County Strings and Keyboard in 2006 and continues to direct it to this day. This 501( c )(3) nonprofit orchestral string outreach program supplements school music programs and provides opportunity to learn and perform on string instruments and keyboards. The Sanders of Washington Avenue would be proud of all their descendants.

Readers may contact Harvey [email protected]