Bruce Terry Saunders

Bruce Terry Saunders, 67, of Morganton died Friday, July 22, 2016. Born in Burke County, January 13, 1949, he was the son of the late Russell and Ethel Clark Saunders. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Earl Douglas Saunders, and sisters, Azalee Fleming and Effie Mae Smith. Bruce was a member of Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

Bruce graduated from Salem High School in 1967. In January, 1969 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and received Basic Training at Fort Bragg, NC. After Basic Training he was assigned to Company E 3^rd Battalion, 22^nd Infantry, 25^th Infantry Division in Vietnam. During his tour of Duty in Vietnam he served as radio operator, rifleman, and machine gunner. He received two Army Commendation Medals, Air Medal, and Bronze Star.

After Vietnam, he attended WPCC and Catawba Valley Technical Institute. His career of choice was that of licensed electrician. He worked for Crouch Electrical and Starr Electric of Greensboro. In the early 1990’s he began work at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. He was working there when in March, 1994 he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that lead to him being physically disabled. He loved reading, gardening, antiques, and sports.

Bruce is survived by brothers, Donald Saunders and his wife, Brenda, and James Saunders and his wife, Shirley, of Morganton; sisters, Linda Saunders, Helen Hallyburton and her husband, James, of Morganton and Viola Harris of Archer City, TX; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family extends sincere appreciation to Magnolia Lane Nursing Facility (formerly Britthaven) for his care over the last 21 years.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., Monday, July 25, 2016 at Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church fellowship hall. The graveside service will follow in the church cemetery with the Rev. Phillip Hefner officiating. Military honors will be provided by the NC National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to be made to Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 5358 Denton’s Chapel Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to the Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.