“He was a good guy. One of those guys in the white hats.”
That’s how Addison resident Bob Godkin described his friend of more than 40 years, Bruce F. Sanderson.
Sanderson passed away Friday, August 29, 2003. He was 73.
A respected businessman, dedicated community leader, loving family man and good friend, Sanderson was all these things and much more.
For many years he owned and operated the Oxford-based Town and Country Business Service.
Oakland County Commissioner Bill Patterson (R-Oxford), who used to own Patterson Pharmacy, said Sanderson’s business offered one of the first charge cards for local businesses.
“It was very close to the first of its kind,” Patterson said. “This was before Visa and Mastercard were as popular as today.”
His dedication to the business community he served led Sanderson to become a past president of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.
His dedication to the community led him to become a past president of the Rotary Club of Oxford and a past president and member of the Oxford Area United Fund.
Sanderson’s commitment to steering Oxford in the right direction led him to be elected township treasurer in 1966. He held the office until 1970.
As an elected official, he dedicated himself to making township government more responsive to citizens’ needs.
“When residents are confronted with specific problems, they should not be forced to sit through the details of a regularly scheduled business meeting. A special meeting should be held for these residents and only their problem should be discussed at this meeting,” Sanderson told the Leader in 1966.
Beyond his public life, Sanderson was the kind of man everyone loved.
“He had a great sense of humor. He was always ready with a joke,” Godkin said. “He was an easy guy to make friends with and talk to. Everybody liked Bruce. He made friends with everybody.”
Attending Detroit Lions football games, golfing and fishing were some of Sanderson and Godkin’s favorite things to do together.
Patterson decribed Sanderson as a “super guy. . .very caring. . .family-oriented.”
When he and his wife, Ruth, came to town in January 1964, Patterson said it was the Sandersons who “took us under their wing” and “introduced us to everybody.”
A loving husband, Sanderson was married to his beautiful bride Clara J. Sanderson, the current township clerk, for more than 53 years.
Their happy union produced three children – Janice L. (Doug) Gerhold, Bruce F. Sanderson Jr. and Brian (Michelle) Sanderson.
Sanderson was the proud grandfather of Nick, Dakota, Mallory, Sara, Evan, Conner, McKenna, Tenley and Cooper.
He’s also survived by his brother David (Ollie) Sanderson and sister-in-law Ann Sanderson. He’s preceded in death by his brother Thomas Sanderson.
Sanderson’s funeral was held Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Bossardet Chapel Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Oxford.
Christ the King Church Pastor Bob Holt officiated.
Memorials may be made to Christ the King Church or to the family for a future scholarship fund.