Don Sanderson (Tulia)

Don Sanderson, age 93, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023.  Services will be held at 10:00 am July 22, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Tulia, Texas with the Rev. Charles Davenport officiating.

Don was born in Tulia, Texas November 21, 1929 to Phil and Blanche Mellott Sanderson.  He was the third of four boys. He grew up in Tulia and graduated from Tulia High School in 1947, where he was on the football team and played trombone in the marching band. 

He worked with the U. S. Postal Service for forty-two years. He became a letter carrier in 1950.  Eighteen years later, in 1968, he became Postmaster.  He held this position for twenty-four years, retiring in 1992.  In his retirement, he ran his father-in-law’s cattle ranch in Jermyn, Texas for several years, and then served as Tulia City Judge for several years.

He spent 33 years in the National Guard and Army Reserves.  He entered in 1948 as a private and retired in 1981 as a lieutenant colonel.

Don married Karen Shepard in 1969. He was active in his community as a member of First Baptist Church in Tulia, the Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the West Texas Running Club.

Don was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; a grandson, Jacob Marcum; a great-grandson, Kindle Perkins; his three brothers, Phil Sanderson, Harold Dale Sanderson, and Ray Sanderson; and his parents.

Survivors include his children, Dawn Lanham and husband, James of Gatesville, Paul Sanderson of Tulia, Janet Marcum and husband, Joe of Canyon, Stephanie Cartwright and husband, Todd of League City; step-children, David Jones and wife, Stefanie of Ransom Canyon, and Dawn Young and husband, Randall of Georgetown; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 450, Tulia, TX 79088.