Robert W. Saunderson Jr., M.D., 85

DOVER - Robert W. Saunderson Jr., M.D., of Dover died on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in the presence of his loving family. He was 85. Dr. Saunderson was born in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 4 1923, son of the late Robert W. and Luella S. (Chapman) Saunderson. He was a graduate of Dover High School Class of 1941, Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y., in 1947. Col. Saunderson served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserves and U.S. Air Force Reserves retiring in 1983 after 37 years of active and reserve service. Following active duty service ending in 1953, he was a general pediatrician in Salisbury, Md., for five years and the Medical Director of the Elizabethtown Hospital for Children and Youth in Elizabethtown, Pa., for 17 years before returning to active service in the Air Force in 1976. Following retirement from active service, he was in practice as a developmental/behavioral pediatrician in Dover, before retiring in 2005. Dr. Saunderson actively enjoyed his community. As a member and former Deacon of First Baptist Church, Dover, he also served on their Mission and Christian Education Boards and enjoyed teaching the Berean Class. He was a long time active member of Rotary International, enjoying the fellowship of Dover Rotary and Rotary in many cities across the nation as he traveled. He was also involved with the Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion, Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity, Scotch Irish Foundation, Air Force Association, and the Military Officers Association of America. Professionally, Dr. Saunderson was a former board member of the Dover Salvation Army, served on the Advisory Counsel of AID in Dover, on the Board of Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc., and was a charter member of C.H.A.D.D. of Kent County, serving on its Advisory Board. While working in Pennsylvania, he was also deeply involved with the United Way of Lancaster County, Pa., the Easter Seal Society of Pennsylvania, and United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bob, as he was often known, assisted in establishing the Welsh Mountain Medical Clinic near New Holland, Pa., serving on their Board and as a volunteer physician to provide low cost medical care to area. He served on the medical staffs of Bayheath-Kent General Hospital and A. I. DuPont Institute, was a former Clinical Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and was formerly on the staffs of Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., Lancaster General Hospital and Hershey Medical Center, in Pennsylvania. Dr. Saunderson was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Delegate of the House of Representatives and a member Ethics Commitee of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and a member of the Medical Society of Delaware, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and American Medical Association. Dr. Saunderson was married to Emily (Reynolds) Saunderson for 61 years and together they have four daughters, Ellen S. Roth of Houston, Texas, Carol A. Saunderson, R.N. and her husband Albert M. Kennedy of Schwenksville, Pa., Martha (Josie) Cotti of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and Mary S. Cutherell and her husband Larry (Lawrence C.) Cutherell of Norfolk, Va. / Murree Hills, Pakistan; enjoying their grandchildren, Cathleen Henrie and her husband Ed Henrie, Doreen (Dory) Bailey, Craig Roth, Gretchen Clark, Neil Kennedy Saunderson, Pamela Kennedy Saunderson, Bridget E. Cotti, Megan E. Cotti, Patricia Cutherell, Abigail Cutherell, Hannah Cutherell, Benjamin Cutherell; and great-grandchildren, Andrew Esparza, Crystal Bradford, Hayden Clark, Winston Clark and Harrison Clark. Memorial services will be Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at 4 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Dover 301 Walker Road Dover. Family and friends may call at the Church one hour before the time of the service. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Global Mission Outreach of CMDA P.O. Box 7500 Bristol, TN 37620 and/or The Salvation Army of Dover 611 Forrest Ave. Dover, DE 19904. Letters of condolences may be sent to www.delmarvaobits.com or traderfh@aol.com.