George Clark Sanders

George Clark Sanders

June 6, 1932 - June 3, 2025

George Clark Sanders age 92, of Knoxville, now rests in peace with God. He is survived by sons, Howard (Linda), Scott (Darlene) and Eric. Grandchildren, Samantha and Alexandra Sanders, Tyler Sanders (Tori), and great-granddaughter, Trinity. and special friends: Nikki Guthrie, and Kenney Boatman. He was preceded in death by beloved wife Mary Ann; parents GE and Sudie (Howard) Sanders; siblings, Roger, Ed, and Georgia, and his sorely missed grandson, Joseph.

The dash between the dates belies a full life. George was born in Harlan, Kentucky, and grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, graduating from Dobyns Bennett HS. He served with pride in the United States Air Force during the Korea conflict, a time he was proud of throughout his life, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Marriage to Mary Ann Monk in 1956, bringing a great light to his life. Together they raised three sons, Howard, Scott, and Eric. Over the years he also lived in Knoxville, TN where he attended the University of TN on the GI bill, Asheville, NC, Riverside, CA, Blountville, TN, and made his and Mary Ann’s final stop in Knoxville, TN.

He started his career as a draftsman for ASG Glass Company, became involved in computer science work after meeting some reps of IBM, became a programmer in the days when a computer filled a building, a short stint working with a contractor on the space project Gemini. He advanced his IT career with Pittston Coal Group, and finished his working career as Director of IT, for BAX Global in 2000.

He loved fishing-especially fly fishing- and gardening with a passion for tomatoes, a car enthusiast, he taught us boys how to pack a bearing, and how to properly wax a car. He survived the crazy antics of three boys growing up and remembered our successes more than our failures. He lived by a code and had high standards.

He will be most remembered for being our mother’s champion. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010, he became her advocate, looking for hope, challenging treatments, and speaking for her when she could no longer speak. The garden became overgrown, and the fishing gear was passed down, but his love did not waver, even when she passed in 2018. His next battle was age, and he fought it tooth and nail, his life’s credo, “Can’t never did anything” … but time is relentless. I pray his legacy lives on in me and my brothers being good men…never said enough, but we love you, Dad.