Ruth Sanderson Landers

Ruth Sanderson Landers, 94, died August 1, 2021, succumbing to a terminal illness. Ruth was born on the 3rd of July in 1927 to James Connie and Ida Mae Mahan in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was raised by her aunt in Birmingham, Alabama. Her cousin, Mamie Smith, developed a special bond with Ruth and nurtured her into womanhood. They developed a deep companionship that lasted a lifetime. Ruth became Mamie's caregiver during her declining years.

During a church conference to North Carolina, Ruth met a blue-eyed Navy man, Willis "Sandy" Sanderson, who became her husband in 1945. After he served time in China during World War II, Sandy returned home to Ruth and they began twelve hard years of education for him to become a physician. Ultimately, they moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he became a respected anesthesiologist, spending their lives serving the community. They provided many services including co-chairing support groups for Parkinson's Disease. Ruth and Sandy had the rare opportunity of spending over fifty years enjoying a fulfilling and happy marriage and raising a family of five children. Her 5-star cooking and his humor and original improvisational hilarity made the family dinner table a wonderful experience for Ruth, their children and guests.

Ruth enjoyed raising her five Sanderson children consisting of Jerry, Nancy, Bruce, Jamie and Larry. Dr. and Mrs. Sanderson moved to Friendship Village in Tempe, Arizona in 1993. The loss of Dr. Sanderson in 2001 was a personal blow to his family and to the community. After Sandy’s death, Ruth had no intentions of another relationship until an irresistible Irish gentleman with an unusually interesting background moved in next door, Matthew Patrick Landers. An extended memorable friendship developed into a happy marriage in 2004 and added three grown children to Ruth’s loving arms by way of Greg, Betsy and Suzy Landers. They enjoyed Irish family gatherings along with all the special traditions, Irish soda bread, traveling, cruising, Kiwanis, and World War II veteran activities. His death in 2007 was a dramatic loss. The Landers children believe Ruth added extra years to their father’s life.

Since 2018, Ruth had been residing at Friendship Village Health Care Center in Tempe, Arizona. In a serendipitous tribute to her first love, Ruth Sanderson Landers passed away on Willis "Sandy" Sanderson's 98th birthday on August 1, 2021. Ruth touched many hearts. A floor nurse remarked that she had never seen so many people emotionally affected after hearing of Ruth's passing.

Ruth is survived by her children Nancy and Sanford Culver, Bruce and Sue Sanderson, Jamie and Diana Sanderson, Larry Sanderson, and by her stepchildren Captain Gregory and Joan Landers, Suzanne and Thomas Stevens, and Elizabeth and Dr. Mark Lawlor.

A Memorial Service with light refreshments will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 1:00 pm at Friendship Village Recreation Center, 2645 E Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Friendship Village of Tempe at the above address, checks payable to Friendship Village Memorial Fund, memo: Sanderson Landers Fund. Memories and condolences can be left at the Advantage Melcher Roses web site: www.advantagemelcherroses.com.