Ralph Allan Sanders

Ralph Allan Sanders, 79, passed away at his home in Palmyra on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. 

Ralph was born in Covington, KY to the late  Ralph Lee and Dorothy Poate Sanders on March 30, 1941.

He went to school at McDowell High School, in Erie, PA, and graduated from Dartmouth, Penn State, and received a PhD from the University of Minnesota.

Ralph served for two years in the Peace Corp in Nigeria.

 He worked as a Professor and Department Chair of Environmental Science, at SUNY on Syracuse University Campus for 24 years.

After he retired, Ralph pursued his lifelong interest in history, science, and genealogy, culminating in the publishing of two-family histories. 

 Ralph is survived by his wife, Nancy Gustin, whom he married in 1976; four adult children: Shawn Hammond (Joanna), Dawn Hammond Sammet (Martin), Lucas Sanders (Julia), and Matthew Sanders (Larisa Jones); two sisters, Peggy Van der Heide (Charles) and Carole Sanders; six grandchildren: Ben Sammet, Taylar Hammond, Hunter Hammond, Rylee Hammond, Katherine Giannini, and Domenic Giannini; two nieces, Jennifer Van der Heide and Becky Galuska (Bob), and one nephew, David Van der Heide (Lori).

A private family memorial will be held at a future date.

Memorials may be given to Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Dr., Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota 57770 

The family of Ralph Sanders wish to extend our sincere thanks to the Lake Monticello EMT rescue for their caring service, as well as the Lake Monticello Police squad who helped in our hour of need.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Thacker Brothers Lake Monticello Funeral Home. 

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories online with the family by visiting www.thackerbrothers.com

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