Fred Giles Sanders III

LHS '65

January 12, 1947 - March 15, 2026

" He has achieved success, who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much..." - The 1965 Silver Sabre

Fred Giles Sanders III, known to family and friends as Buddy, peacefully passed away in his home surrounded by loved ones, March 15, 2026, at the age of 79.

Fred was born on January 12, 1947, in Huntsville, Alabama and was a proud third-generation resident of Monte Sano Mountain. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from The University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1974. Fred honorably served his country in the United States Air Force, Navy, and retired as a Commander from the Navy Reserves. While serving in the Navy as an A-7 Corsair pilot he met and married his beloved wife of fifty years, Lynn Sanders. Fred devoted his professional life to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, supporting numerous projects including the development and documentation of the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator and various Space Telescope missions.

A man of many talents and interests, Fred was known for his creativity, craftsmanship, and witty humor. He and Lynn raised three children in his childhood home on Monte Sano Mountain. During this time, he built aircraft, restored classic Corvettes, and designed and constructed additions to his family home. He was also a gifted musician who enjoyed building, playing, and refurbishing banjos, violins, and violas. In the summer months, he could often be found fishing and tending to his vegetable garden.

Fred is survived by his wife, Lynnette G. Sanders; his children, Rebekah Sanders, MaryLynn Evans (Michael), and David Sanders; his grandchildren, Quillan and Olivia Perry, Truman and Sofie Bynum, and Elliott and Brinkley Sanders; and sisters, Suzanne S. Pratt (Dr. George) and Amy West (Steve). He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred G. Sanders Jr. and Mary Drake Sanders Hendricks (Evan).

Fred will be remembered for his nimble mind, strong work ethic, and generous heart. His hands were rarely still, and his mind was always creating. Though he has left this world, the strength of his presence remains unconquered in the hearts of all who were privileged to know him.

In lieu of an immediate service, the family will host a celebration of life later this year.

In Memory and In Community: 

A History of How Lee’s Traveller Honors Its Own

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

When the first issues of Lee’s Traveller began circulating in the early 2000s, no one imagined that the newsletter would one day become the unofficial historian of the Lee High School Classes of 1964–1966. What started as a simple exchange of stories and reconnections gradually grew into something deeper: a place where classmates could honor those who had passed, preserve their stories, and ensure that no one slipped quietly from memory.

In the earliest editions, memorials appeared only occasionally—short notes shared by friends who had heard the news, or a brief remembrance tucked between nostalgic essays. But as the years passed, the role of the newsletter evolved. The classmates who once filled the halls of Lee High were now scattered across the country, and the newsletter became the thread that stitched them together. With each passing year, the memorials became not just announcements, but tributes—small acts of remembrance that carried enormous emotional weight.

Unlike formal alumni associations with structured archives, Lee’s Traveller never kept a master list of deaths. Instead, each memorial lived within the issue that carried it, woven into the ongoing story of the class. Some were long, heartfelt reflections; others were simple acknowledgments of a life once shared. All were meaningful. They reminded readers that the class was more than a collection of names—it was a community shaped by shared experiences, shared teachers, shared triumphs, and shared losses.

Over time, these memorials became one of the most important functions of the newsletter. They offered classmates a way to grieve together, even from miles apart. They preserved the stories of those who had shaped the class’s identity. And they allowed the living to reconnect with the past, remembering not just the person who had died, but the era they all lived through together.

Today, more than sixty years after the Class of ’66 walked across the graduation stage, the memorials in Lee’s Traveller serve as a collective archive of lives lived with purpose, humor, and resilience. They reflect the passage of time, but also the enduring strength of the bonds formed in youth. Each tribute is a reminder that the class is still a community—one that remembers, honors, and celebrates its own.

As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, the memorials in Lee’s Traveller stand as a quiet testament to the American story at the personal level. They capture the lives of men and women who came of age during a time of profound change, who built families, careers, and legacies, and who left their mark on the people who knew them best.

In the end, the memorials are not about loss—they are about connection. They ensure that every classmate, no matter how many years have passed, remains part of the story. And as long as Lee’s Traveller continues its journey, those stories will never be forgotten.

The Wayback Machine

"Memories"

Elvis Presley

1968

"Memories" is a 1968 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley.

It was written by Billy Strange and Mac Davis specially for Presley to perform on Elvis, his comeback TV special that would air on NBC on December 3, 1968. Later Mac Davis recalled to Billboard: "They had asked for a song about looking back over the years, and oddly enough, I had to write it in one night. I stayed up all night at Billy Strange's house in Los Angeles. He had a little office set up in his garage. I wrote it right there."

Released in the United States in 1969 accompanied by "Charro", the title song from the movie Charro!,on the B-side, "Memories" reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of April 12, 1969.

The song is also included on the album Elvis, the soundtrack album for the NBC TV special at which it was first performed. For the TV show itself the song was recorded live, but the album features a studio version recorded on June 24.

LEE LUNCH BUNCH

Classes of ‘64, ‘65, ‘66

Logan’s Roadhouse

Thursday, April 23, 2026

11:00 am

Thanks to the efforts of Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid and Ken Martz, we now have a reservation at Logan’s Roadhouse, one of our favorite restaurants for this group.

As we begin our sixteenth year of LLB, it has become apparent to most of us just how quickly the years are passing and most painfully as we lose our dear old friends and classmates. With that being said, I urge you all to make every effort to come, have a good lunch, and enjoy a little time with dear old friends. Hope to see you in April.

Patsy Hughes Oldroyd ’65 (256) 431-3396

patsykeith2025@outlook.com   

Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid ’66 (256) 656-3667

I am still playing around with Artificial Intelligence and seeing how it sees the things which were important to us in our youth and expecially how it relates to Lee's Traveller. Over the next few weeks I will share some of the results.

The following email addresses had problems receiving my emails:

maverick13@bellsouth.net

jimjohnson98@gmail.com

lyons_richarda@bellsouth.net

ann@huntsvilleaccounting.com

mecdajmykiki2850@gmail.com

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66 , "Very nice!, Tommy ! Those were the best days ever !"