| William K. “Bill” Saunders, 78, of Gainesville passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center. Bill was born in Quitman, GA on February 3, 1934 to Robert LeRoy and Lois Aileen Patrick Saunders and moved to Gainesville when he was five years old. Bill graduated from P.K. Yonge and attended the University of Florida before serving in the United States Navy. Bill was an owner along with his brother Robert “Bob” of the Gas Well Service Station, Shell Oil Distributorship, The Florida Welcome Station, Developer and Builder of Turkey Creek Forest, and most recently the former owners of Forest Meadows Funeral Home and Cemeteries. Bill was a longtime member of Grace at Ft. Clarke Church where he served as an usher for many years. He was an avid Gator fan and enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Eastside Garden Club. Bill was predeceased by his parents and his sister Virginia Cellon and a stepdaughter Terry Whitten. Bill is survived by his wife Lajuanna, daughters, Teri Lonon (DJ) and Karen Murphy (Doug), a stepdaughter Diane Lee, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Robert “Bob” Saunders(Millie), numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Bill will be held on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, 11:00am at Grace at Ft. Clarke Church, 9325 West Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32606, with burial at Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central, 4100 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Grace at Ft. Clarke Church or Haven Hospice. |
