Jerry W Sanford

Jerry Worthen Sanford joined the Heavenly All-Stars on October 29, 2014. He was born March 15, 1942 to Vernon Doyle and Evalyn Josephine (nee Worthen) Sanford in Columbus, Ohio. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of Troop 45 before graduating from West High School in1960 and thereafter served in the U.S. Navy with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 aboard the USS Lake Champlain. He then joined the Ohio Air National Guard and retired from active duty and his position as Command and Control Superintendent at Rickenbacker ANGB after 23 years having risen to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant with a total of 33 years of active military service. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 device, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 device, the National Defense Service Medal with 1 device, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 8 devices and others. He graduated from the USAF Senior NCO Academy and served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He attended The Ohio State University and received his BS from Franklin University and his MSBA from Central Michigan University. He was a member of West Park United Methodist Church for more than 70 years and an avid and successful softball player for 6 decades. The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department recently named the 65 and over league the Jerry Sanford League in his honor. If there was a foot of room down either line, Jerry had a line drive to fill it. Teammates and opponents alike respected and befriended him for his passion and sportsmanship. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Irmgard Sanford. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Bakenhester Sanford, his son Brian Scott Sanford, his daughter Kelly Sanford; his brother Jack, his wife Claudia and their children Byron and Annamaria; his brother Jay (Skip), his wife Julie and their son Max, his wife Rachel and their children Lily and Annabelle; and Jerry's furry friend Stewart. In addition to softball and family, Jerry loved the bike path and Ford Falcon convertibles. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his devotion to God and Country. A special thanks to Sharon's caregivers, to Jerry's oncologist, Dr. Behrens, and his staff for an astounding 14 years of chemotherapy and for the nurses and staff at Kobacker House. Friends may call on Sunday, November 2, 2014 from 2:00PM-5:00PM at the SCHOEDINGER HILLTOP CHAPEL, 3030 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio where funeral service will be held on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 10:00AM. Pastor Jeff Julien officiating. Entombment will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, OH 43215. Please visit www.Schoedinger.com to share a memory of Jerry.