[NFBWV-Talk] Mary Ann Saunders RIP

[Ed McDonald]

We learned this evening from her daughter Teri that Mary Ann Saunders passed away on Saturday. Her obituary is below.

Mary Ann was a faithful and hard-working member of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia and earned a place--along with her husband, Buck--in the Hall of Honor. In addition to chairing the scholarship committee for many years, she was the original coordinator of NFB Newsline in West Virginia, before it was handed over to the Library Commission. Many people recognized Mary Ann and Buck as the faces and the voices of Federationism in the Greater Huntington area.

Mary Ann was also a dear friend and gentle spirit,  and I am sure we are all saddened by the loss.


Mary Ann Collins Saunders,84, of Huntington, WV. passed away Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Woodland Oaks Health Care. She was born October 19, 1940 in McConnelsville, PA. a daughter of the late Cecil Everett and Rachel Harden Collins. She graduated from the Pittsburgh School for the Blind and the Indiana State Teachers College in Indiana, Pa. She tutored and taught sighted people to read with the literacy council and held a variety of volunteer positions with the National Federation of the Blind at the local, state and national level including being the chairperson for the WVNFB scholarship committee. She played the handbells in the church choir, was an avid reader, lover of animals and enjoyed working with her flowers. She faithfully attended both Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church and later Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church. She and her husband were very civic minded and spent many hours advocating for the rights of the blind. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years Willis G. "Buck" Saunders and an infant sister Laura Lee Collins. Survivors include two daughters Laura Bowen (Eli Riggs) and Teri Booten (Bob); three grandchildren Luke Bowen (Chelsea Adkins) and Eli and Zane Booten; two sisters Lynne Edwards (Bill) and Donna Stiers; brother and sister-in-law Keith Saunders (Glenna) and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at the Mount Union United Methodist Church 3931 Mount Union Road Huntington, WV. 25701. The funeral will follow at 6:30 P.M. with Pastor Amy McNeil officiating. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at 
www.rollinsfh.com