William Kenneth Sanford, age 90, of Brownwood passed away Saturday morning at the Abilene Regional Medical Center following a sudden illness.
Masonic graveside services will be held at 3 pm Wednesday at Eastlawn Memorial Park with Sammie Stewart officiating and under the direction of Brownwood Masonic Lodge #279. A memorial service will be held at 4 pm at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Richard Jackson officiating. Davis-Morris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Kenneth was born March 30, 1927 in Concho, Concho County, Texas the son of the late Walter and Della Ann (Jobe) Sanford. As a teen, Kenneth started working at the Camp Bowie PX as a cashier. With his parents’ permission, he joined the Merchant Marines at 17 years of age. He toured 26 countries during WWII from 1943 through 1947. While home on leave, he was involved in a serious car accident. After a lengthy recovery from a broken hip, Kenneth received his GED in 1946. He then started to Daniel Baker College. In 1947, Kenneth started his career with Santa Fe Railway. He served in numerous job positions within Santa Fe. In 1984, at the time of retirement, he was superintendent of Santa Fe Trails in San Francisco, CA. He married Edna Smitzchgall in 1959 in San Francisco. After retirement, he could pursue his lifelong dream to be a commercial fisherman. He owned and operated his commercial fishing boat in Bodega Bay, CA. In 1993, he and Edna decided to make Brownwood their permanent home.
While with Santa Fe, Kenneth was stationed in Sweetwater, where he joined the Masonic Lodge. He obtained the level of 32nd Degree Shriner and was a member of Heart of Texas Brownwood Shrine Organization. He had been a mason for over 60 years. After Edna’s passing in 1994, Kenneth married Mary Jane Holland on March 30, 1996. They were members of First Baptist Church Brownwood. Kenneth loved traveling, fishing, hunting, gambling, gardening, baking pecan pies and taking care of his fur babies. He got to be known as “The Pie Man” around town.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy (Sanford) Garrett of Fort Worth, aunt, Juanita (Sanford) Brown of Lockhart; nephew, Greg Garrett and wife, Kate of Bayfield, CO; 26 cousins, and his special friend, Joy Davis of Brownwood.
He is survived also by his step-daughters, Sherry Martin and husband Rick and Brenda Goodwin and husband Steve all of Brownwood; grandchildren, Stephanie Goodwin-Cline and husband Cody, Marissa and Scott Roberson, Christopher and Jennifer Goodwin, great grandchildren, Alyssa Couey, Callaghan and Mikaelynn Miles.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, Donor Development Office, 6977 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030
Online condolences can be left at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.