Sydney Burl Sanders

Sydney Burl Sanders, age 85 and a longtime resident of Konawa, Oklahoma, passed away September 1, 2024 at Corn Heritage Village & Rehab in Corn, Oklahoma.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2024 at Swearingen Funeral Home in Konawa, Oklahoma. Rev. Wesley Martin and Rev. Don Russell will officiate, and burial will follow at East Hill Cemetery in Roff, Oklahoma. Casket bearers are Sydney Sanders, Jr., Steve Sanders, Scott Sanders, Tommy Johnson, Joel Sanders, and Matthew Sanders. Honorary bearers are Rodney Sanders, Colt Sanders, Rickey House, Eddie Hilmes, and Blake Wiggins.

Sydney was born December 13, 1938 in Killeen, Texas to Carl Kline Sanders and Francis Bella (Moore) Sanders. He attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He joined the Navy January 31, 1956 until July 2, 1965. He was stationed at the U.S. Naval Communication Facility in Japan on the Destroyer, John R. Craig. He married Jimmie Carol Gibbs May 3, 1968 in Ada, Oklahoma. He worked as an electronic technician for Tinker Air Force Base, and he retired from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. Sydney loved bluegrass music, Louis Lamour Books, history, hunting, singing, computers, anything electronic, and family gatherings. 

He is survived by his wife, Jimmie Sanders of the home; six sons, Sydney Sanders, Jr. of Konawa, Steve Sanders and wife, Lynita of Gracemont, Oklahoma, Rodney Sanders of Houston, Texas, Scott Sanders and wife, Robbie of Konawa, Joel Sanders of Konawa, and Tommy Johnson of Hartford, Arkansas; two daughters, Terry House and husband, Rickey of Konawa, and Jessie Taber and husband, Thomas of Oklahoma City; one brother, Boonie Sanders of Sherman, Texas; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Rusty Sanders; and two sisters, Daphine and Delette.