Betty Ann Sanders

Betty Ann Sanders, 81, of Wilmington, NC passed away peacefully at her residence with her family and her best friends, Sugar and Tigger by her side. She was born February 6, 1930 in Dayton, OH to the late, Robert and Betty Horstman. Betty was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward Charles “Jack” Sanders; second husband, Eldon Sourwine; son, Carter Sanders; and daughter, Lisa Ann Sanders.

Betty Ann attended Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, and later graduated from the University of Dayton. She broke into broadcasting while still in school on radio station WING, where she served as host for three daily talk shows. She was vice-president of Dayton’s Women’s Club. She was featured on a daily television program at WLWD. Her grandfather, Albert A. Horstman was the Democratic national committee chairman from Ohio.

After leaving Dayton, Betty Ann moved to Lewisburg, WV where she bought WRON Televison – making the cover of Life Magazine as one of the nation’s first female TV owners. She worked with the John and Robert Kennedy during the decisive 1960 West Virginia Primary that secured the Democratic presidential nomination for JFK.

For many years, Betty Ann Sanders was vice president of Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. She was the driving force in developing the Volunteer Program. She also worked tirelessly for many different foundations, one of which was Saint Jude Children’s Hospital. It was during her time in Roanoke that she and her mother, Betty Horstman, ran former President’s Jimmy Carter’s campaign.

Betty Ann and Jack left Roanoke in 1983 after visiting Wrightsville Beach, NC. Since moving here, Betty Ann loved Wilmington and called it her home. She was President of Historic Saint Thomas Preservation Society up until 2008. She served on many boards including Carolina Canines, The Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina and Community Boys and Girls Club. Her passion for UNC-W was well known through the television shows she hosted: “Lets Read”, “Lets Talk - UNCW and You”, and co-hosted “Community Link” with Hunter Thompson. Additionally, she served on several university boards including UNC-W Board of Visitors and the Foundation Board. She was a champion of the School of Nursing, in which she funded a scholarship to the UNCW School of Nursing.

In 2003, Betty Ann and her daughter, Jennifer opened Coastal Adult Day Care, now called Adult Day Services of Wilmington. This facility was her ministry, She wanted to provide a place where people with different diagnoses could spend the day and receive the care they needed while treating them with respect and dignity, as well as giving them feelings of self worth . She was there as much for the caregiver as she was for the client because she knew caregiving is a 24 hour a day job.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2011 at University of North Carolina Wilmington McNiell Hall (School of Nursing). The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Adult Day Services of Wilmington, 220 Avondale Avenue #103, Wilmington, NC 28403.

The staff at Coble Ward Smith Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Betty Ann Sanders.