Please donate to Cypress Glen Benevolent Fund in loving memory of Dr. J Fred Saunders.

Fred Saunders was born June 1, 1928 in Aulander, NC. He was the son of Dr. Sheldon Asa Saunders and Myra Aumack Saunders.

Fred attended Bullis Preparatory School in preparation for going to West Point, but the Korean War ended so he decided to attend UNC Chapel Hill, completing undergraduate studies in 1950.  He went on to medical school in Chapel Hill, graduating in the first four-year class in 1954 (His father graduated from the first two year class at UNC medical school 50 years prior).  After one year of family practice residency at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), he was “personally called” to be a U.S. Army doctor in Inchon, Korean, serving as a Captain in a M.A.S.H hospital unit.

After his Army service and residency completion, Saunders returned home in October of 1958 to begin his family medical practice, in a building next to his father.  The senior Saunders retired at age 85 after 56 years of service  (1916-1972). Fred cared for many of his father’s old patients, their children, and grandchildren through their lives.  Along with family medicine, Saunders practiced obstetrics and gynecology for the first 25 years of his practice, rarely having any time off from being “on call.” He was active on the Roanoke Chowan Hospital staff, caring for in-patients as well as seeing his patients day and night who came into the Emergency Department, before emergency room physicians were available.  But he still made time to make “house calls” long after most physicians in the area had ceased doing so. He followed the example that his father set before him, caring for invalids and those with limited transportation. 

He retired from full-time practice in 1996, but continued to work part-time to transition his beloved patients and family histories to the new physician, Dr. Simon Khoury. Plein air painting became the new passion of retirement.

Dr. Saunders is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois Nelson Saunders, their three children Suzanne Woolard and husband John of Kill Devil Hills, Hope Hackler and husband Tommy of Wilmington, NC, and son Jay Saunders, Jr. and wife Linda of Kill Devil Hills. He was most proud of his four grandchildren and their families, John Woolard III, Sheldon Woolard Peebles and husband Alex of Richmond, Helen Woolard Powell and husband Jesse, of Wilmington, and Powell Hacker, Jr. and wife Janet of Wilmington, and three great-grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his love, compassion, and kindness toward everyone.  His love for the outdoors and God’s bounty.