More detail on this person: Nicholas Edwin
Saunders, Sr., age 74, of Richmond, VA, passed
away peacefully on February 28, 2016, surrounded
by his wife and children. Beloved husband, father
and grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 53
years, Barbara, also of Richmond, and children,
Susan Saunders and Nick Saunders Jr. and Dr.
Mercedes Rubio, and grandson Nicholas Edwin
Saunders III, all of Washington, DC. In addition
to his immediate and extended family, Nick leaves
many friends made during his life. He was
predeceased by his parents, James Edwin and
Maudeleen Manuel Saunders, of Pulaski, VA.
He proudly served 21 years in the United States
Marine Corps, retiring as Major in 1981, and 21
years in the Virginia State Police, retiring as
Lieutenant in 2007. His vocation in each was as an
aviator, flying helicopters and fixed wing
aircraft, logging 10,200 hours. During his first
duty assignment, Nick participated in the Cuban
Missile Crisis and other deployments to the
Caribbean.
He served two tours in Vietnam, from 1965-1966
and 1968-1970, and tours of duty at Marine Corps
Air Stations New River and Cherry Point, Pensacola
Naval Air Station, and Okinawa, Japan. Nick began
his career with the Virginia State Police in 1988
as a Trooper-Pilot, graduating the Virginia State
Police Academy at age 46, and was the third oldest
graduate at that time. In December 1999, Nick was
promoted to Lieutenant of the Aviation Unit. He
was the recipient of two Virginia State Police
Superintendent's Awards of Merit, the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Valor,
the Virginia Public Safety Foundation Silver
Award, and a Chesterfield County EMS Unit
Citation. He was modest in receiving such
recognition, saying he was "just doing his job"
and "it was a team effort."
The Saunders family extends its appreciation and
gratitude to family and friends who sent thoughts
and prayers during Nick''s illness, and visited
and supported Nick and the entire family. In lieu
of flowers, please consider a contribution to Joy
Ranch, PO Box 727, Hillsville, VA, 24343, or the
charity of your choice.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 6 from 3 to 7
p.m. at Bliley''s Funeral Home, 6900 Hull Street
Road, Richmond, Va 23224. A celebration of Nick''s
life will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 7 at
the Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road,
Richmond, Va 23235, followed by burial at 2 p.m.
at the Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin
Rd., Triangle, VA 22172.
Published in The Washington Post on Mar. 6, 2016
Burial information: Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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