Bobbie Carol (Whitson) Sanders

Born in 1933 in Covington, TN to Carey and Lena Whitson, she was predeceased by her parents, her brother Jay, and sister Annelle.

Bobbie was a graduate of Carson-Newman College (TN) and received the Masters of Arts degree from Baylor University, where she was a candidate for the Ph.D. pending dissertation. She also pursued doctoral studies at Rice University where she was a Teaching Assistant. She taught English at Austin, Reagan, Crockett, and Anderson High School, where she was the first English Department chairperson. Her career in the Austin Independent School District included the development and supervision of Secondary Writing Laboratories, and in the last thirteen years there, she was head of the district's Gifted and Talented Program.

Bobbie had a life-long love of learning, and especially enjoyed, since 2007, auditing a course each semester at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Bird watching, playing the alto recorder, making greeting cards, reading murder mysteries, writing poetry, and being a yellow-dog Democrat all greatly enriched her life.

She cherished her family in the faith at University Presbyterian Church, where she served as both a Ruling Elder and as a Deacon. One of her greatest joys was serving in the outreach program of her church, UPlift. Her church family and other dear friends gave her love and support through the years, especially the family of Jim and Donna Linn and her "granddaughters," Katie and Becky.

Bobbie liked to consider her faith as a work in progress, never assuming to have all the answers. Death was simply part of life, and she like to quote, "I may not know what's out there, but I know Who's out there, and that's enough." She learned to say with conviction, "It's all Grace."

A memorial service will be held at University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio St. Austin, Texas 78705, on Saturday, February 17th, 2024 at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested for University Presbyterian Church's Uplift Ministry, Doctors without Borders, or any organization serving the needs of the poor, the sick, or the mentally ill.