Atkinson, NH – Richard Webster Sanders, 93, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA, following a brief illness.

Born August 8, 1930, and raised in Rutland, VT, he was the son of the late Cloyd and Kathleen "Kay" (Roach) Sanders.

Richard was known to most of his family, friends, and colleagues by his nickname "Dick." Mr. Sanders was a graduate of Rutland's Mt. St. Joseph Academy's class of 1948. He served honorably in the US Air Force from 1952 to 1956, and in the Air Force Reserve until 1959, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. Toward the end of the Korean War and early days of the Cold War, Richard was stationed at an air base in England, which gave him an opportunity to travel throughout Europe. He later earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Vermont, and his MS in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He went on to work in his chosen field for 37 years at the Merrimack Valley Works plant in North Andover, MA. That meant working for evolving telephone company Bell Labs/Western Electric/AT&T and eventually Lucent Technologies. It was a job he enjoyed every day. Richard retired from Lucent Technologies in 1996.

Richard enjoyed woodworking, pioneering, gardening, cooking, genealogy, sharing his knowledge, and camping with friends and family. He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America, and the former Lone Tree and Yankee Clipper Councils. He has been an Assistant Scout Master, and a District Commissioner. After retirement and well into his 80s, he served several summers as a Boy Scout camp counselor teaching pioneering and orienteering skills and serving up a variety of delicious campfirecooked meals to the delight of campers and staff at the Lone Tree Scout Reservation in Kingston, NH.

A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he is survived by his children James Sanders of Fitchburg, MA; Robert Sanders of Lexington, MA; Daniel Sanders and his wife Cathy of Dracut, MA; and Linda Sanders and her husband Jay Morris of Watertown, MA; his grandchildren Jayme and her husband John, Jimmy, Wyatt and Nate, and his great grandson Harlow. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Richard was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Barbara (Foley) Sanders, and his siblings Thomas Sanders of San Bernadino, CA, and Carol Harney of Fair Haven, VT.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 2 – 5pm on Sunday, October 15, 2023. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, October 16, 2023, in the chapel of the funeral home. Interment will follow at Holy Angels cemetery, Plaistow, NH. Arrangements are under the direction of Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St, Plaistow, NH.