The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., November 21, 1968, page 1

FUNERALS FOR TWO SCHEDULED THURSDAY

     The deaths of two persons, well-known in Goldendale in recent years were recorded over the weekend.
     John T. Saunders, proprietor of The Dairy Bar Cafe, collapsed and died of a heart attack at his home Sunday evening.
     Catherine VanVactor (Mrs. Elmer) Wilson, died Monday afternoon at Klickitat Valley Hospital, where she had been taken Sunday. She had been confined to her home by lingering illness for the last ten years.
     Funeral services for both were scheduled Thursday: For Mr. Saunders at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and for Mrs. Wilson at 3 p.m. at Knosher Funeral Home.
     Obituary for Mr. Saunders elsewhere in this issue.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., November 21, 1968, page 5

JOHN T. SAUNDERS

     John Saunders, who died in Goldendale November 17, 1968, was born in Chehalis, Wa., October 21, 1904. He was the son of Alfred and Margaret Blake Saunders, and the grandson of S.S. Saunders, pioneer settler of the 1860s who settled the donation land claim on which Chehalis is located.
     After attending schools in his hometown, John followed road construction work into employment with the State Highway Department. While stationed with the department in Goldendale, he met Lily Culver. They were married here March 4, 1939.
     He served with the United States Coast Guard during World War II, from October 27, 1942 till February 49, 1944. After his discharge, he managed a restaurant in Marysville, Cal., for two years, then moved to Chehalis to work with his brother in the St. Helens Hotel coffee shop. In 1904 he and Mrs. Saunders purchased the Dairy Bar cafe in Goldendale, which they have operated since.
     Survivors include the widow, Lily: a brother, Robert F. Saunders, Chehalis; a niece, Suzanne McElroy, and her daughter, Julie, of Pullman. He was preceded in death by another brother, William Schuyler Saunders, who died at Los Angeles in 1966.
     Services were held November 21, 1968, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Fr. Patrick Byron officiating. Rosary service was held the preceding evening. Interment was at Holy Trinity Cemetery.
     Honorary pallbearers: Dr. George Gulick, August Jackel, Dr. Ralph Case, D.H. Pruitt, Vic Mason, Bill Marvel.
     Active pallbearers were Jim Bridgefarmer, Ray Hoffeditz, Pete May, Wayne Carsey, Robert Imrie and Harold Gray.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer