Edward W. "Buddy" Sanders

Edward W. “Buddy” Sanders, of Knoxville, TN, went to be with the Lord on June 11, 2025, at NHC-Farragut. He was 91. Buddy was born March 20, 1934 on the Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, TN, to the late Edd and Ora Ewell Sanders. He spent his formative years on the Ames Plantation. After graduating from Grand Junction High School, he took the train to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. At UTK, he met the love of his life, Ann Hestle, whom he married in December, 1953. They were married for 56 years before her death in 2010. He earned his undergraduate and Master’s Degrees in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee College of Agriculture. Buddy served two years in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Buddy and Ann’s first son, Mickey, was born in 1959 while Buddy was finishing his Master’s Degree. Upon graduation from UTK in 1963, they moved to Memphis, TN, where he began his career with the UT Agricultural Extension Service. Their second son, Dennis, was born in 1965. Buddy worked with the Extension Service for 7 years before changing careers and going to work for WMC radio and television as their Farm Broadcaster. In 1976, Buddy decided to go into business for himself and started Sanders Farm Supply store in Middleton, TN. He ran the business for 6 years before returning to Memphis and WMC. In 1987, Buddy left WMC and went back to work for the UT Extension Service as County Leader of Shelby County. He and Ann then moved to Knoxville in 1994, where he continued his career with the Extension Service until his retirement in 2000. Buddy’s greatest joy in life was his family. He spoke often of how proud he was of the life he and his wife, Ann Hestle Sanders, had built together. Buddy loved woodworking and telling stories. He usually began each story with “don’t stop me if you’ve heard this story before because I want to hear it again”. Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Edd and Ora Ewell Sanders, his sister, Margaret Sanders Stroupe, and his beloved wife of 56 years, Ann Hestle Sanders. Buddy is survived by son and daughter-in-law Mickey and Michele Sanders, son and daughter-in-law Dennis and Patti Sanders, grandchildren Beth Tuesburg (Adam), Stephen Sanders (Baley), and Susan Sanders (Darren), and great-grandchildren Scarlett, Peyton and Bennett. Buddy was a member of St. Mark UMC. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 20 at 1:00pm at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Lyons View Pike. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Buddy’s honor to the St. Mark UMC Building Fund, P.O. Box 11007, Knoxville, TN 37939. Rose-Mann Funeral and Cremation on Kingston Pike is servicing the family.

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Edward W. "Buddy" Sanders

March 20, 1934 - June 11, 2025