Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameNicholas Edwin SAUNDERS Sr. 
470, James Edwin Saunders,470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.
470, James Edwin Saunders,470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.BirthJun 8, 1941470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.
DeathFeb 28, 2016470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.
BurialNational Memorial Cemetery At Quantico (Quantico National Cemetery), 18424 Joplin Road (Route 619), Quantico, Prince William County, Triangle, Virginia470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.
FlagsUS Marines
FatherJames Edwin SAUNDERS (1917-1998)
MotherMaudeleen Leona MANUEL (1917-1999)
Obituary Online notes for Nicholas Edwin SAUNDERS Sr.
Predeceased by his parents, James Edwin and Maudeleen Manuel Saunders
Class of 1960, Pulaski High School, Pulaski, Va.
Saunders, Nicholas Edwin, Sr, age 74, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2016, surrounded by his wife and children.
Beloved husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara, also of Richmond, and children, Susan Saunders and Nick Saunders, Jr. and Dr. Mercedes Rubio, and grandson Nicholas Edwin Saunders III, all of Washington, DC.
In addition to his immediate and extended family, Nick leaves many friends made during his life.
He was predeceased by his parents, James Edwin and Maudeleen Manuel Saunders, of Pulaski, Va.
He proudly served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as Major in 1981, and 21 years in the Virginia State Police, retiring as Lieutenant in 2007. His vocation in each was as an aviator, flying helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, logging 10, 200 hours. Following graduation from high school, Nick enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1960, completing basic training at Parris Island and infantry training at Camp Geiger. Nick entered the Marine Aviation Cadet Program at Pensacola, Florida in November 1960, and in June 1962 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator and Helicopter Pilot. During his first duty assignment, Nick participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis and other deployments to the Caribbean. He served two tours in Vietnam, from 1965-1966 and 1968-1970, and tours of duty at Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and Okinawa, Japan. Nick's last duty assignment with USMC was as Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 26 with assignments in squadrons HMM-264, HMM-263, HMM-161, HMH-461, HMH-463, HMH-362, HMH-462, HMT-204, H&HS and SOES Cherry Point, and as Flight Instructor with HT-8 and academic instructor at NAS Ellison Field in Pensacola. Nick's decorations and awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", 38 Awards of the Air Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with Star, the Navy Unit Citation with Star, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Star, Vietnamese Services Medal with seven Stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Affairs), First Class with Frame and Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Nick began his career with the Virginia State Police in 1988, graduating the Virginia State Police Academy at age 46, and was the third oldest graduate at that time. He was assigned to Area Office 6 in First Division prior to transitioning to the VSP Aviation Unit as Trooper-Pilot. In December 1999, Nick was promoted to Lieutenant of the Aviation Unit. He was the recipient of two Virginia State Police Superintendent's Awards of Merit, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Valor, the Virginia Public Safety Foundation Silver Award, and a Chesterfield County EMS Unit Citation. He was modest in receiving such recognition, saying he was "just doing his job" and "it was a team effort."
The Saunders family extends its appreciation and gratitude to family and friends who sent thoughts and prayers during Nick's illness, and visited and supported Nick and the entire family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Joy Ranch, PO Box 727, Hillsville, VA, 24343, or the charity of your choice.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 6 from 3-7 pm at Bliley's Funeral Home, 6900 Hull Street Road, Richmond, Va 23224. A celebration of Nick's life will be held at 10 am on Monday, March 7 at the Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road, Richmond, Va 23235, followed by burial at 2 pm at the Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, Va 22172. 470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.
Class of 1960, Pulaski High School, Pulaski, Va.
Saunders, Nicholas Edwin, Sr, age 74, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2016, surrounded by his wife and children.
Beloved husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara, also of Richmond, and children, Susan Saunders and Nick Saunders, Jr. and Dr. Mercedes Rubio, and grandson Nicholas Edwin Saunders III, all of Washington, DC.
In addition to his immediate and extended family, Nick leaves many friends made during his life.
He was predeceased by his parents, James Edwin and Maudeleen Manuel Saunders, of Pulaski, Va.
He proudly served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as Major in 1981, and 21 years in the Virginia State Police, retiring as Lieutenant in 2007. His vocation in each was as an aviator, flying helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, logging 10, 200 hours. Following graduation from high school, Nick enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 1960, completing basic training at Parris Island and infantry training at Camp Geiger. Nick entered the Marine Aviation Cadet Program at Pensacola, Florida in November 1960, and in June 1962 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator and Helicopter Pilot. During his first duty assignment, Nick participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis and other deployments to the Caribbean. He served two tours in Vietnam, from 1965-1966 and 1968-1970, and tours of duty at Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and Okinawa, Japan. Nick's last duty assignment with USMC was as Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 26 with assignments in squadrons HMM-264, HMM-263, HMM-161, HMH-461, HMH-463, HMH-362, HMH-462, HMT-204, H&HS and SOES Cherry Point, and as Flight Instructor with HT-8 and academic instructor at NAS Ellison Field in Pensacola. Nick's decorations and awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", 38 Awards of the Air Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with Star, the Navy Unit Citation with Star, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Star, Vietnamese Services Medal with seven Stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Affairs), First Class with Frame and Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Nick began his career with the Virginia State Police in 1988, graduating the Virginia State Police Academy at age 46, and was the third oldest graduate at that time. He was assigned to Area Office 6 in First Division prior to transitioning to the VSP Aviation Unit as Trooper-Pilot. In December 1999, Nick was promoted to Lieutenant of the Aviation Unit. He was the recipient of two Virginia State Police Superintendent's Awards of Merit, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Valor, the Virginia Public Safety Foundation Silver Award, and a Chesterfield County EMS Unit Citation. He was modest in receiving such recognition, saying he was "just doing his job" and "it was a team effort."
The Saunders family extends its appreciation and gratitude to family and friends who sent thoughts and prayers during Nick's illness, and visited and supported Nick and the entire family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Joy Ranch, PO Box 727, Hillsville, VA, 24343, or the charity of your choice.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 6 from 3-7 pm at Bliley's Funeral Home, 6900 Hull Street Road, Richmond, Va 23224. A celebration of Nick's life will be held at 10 am on Monday, March 7 at the Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road, Richmond, Va 23235, followed by burial at 2 pm at the Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, Va 22172. 470, Nicholas Edwin Saunders Sr.