[NFBWV-Talk] Mary Ann Saunders RIP

[Sheri Koch]

So sad.  she really was a neat person And I loved just chitchatting with
her about her cats and other things she loved


𝒮𝒽ℯ𝓇𝒾 𝓀ℴ𝒸𝒽
Sheri Koch, President
NFBWV
304-209-8779
SLK8332015 at gmail.com









On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 11:11 PM Ed McDonald <ed at eioproductions.com> wrote:

> 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
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3931+Mount+Union+Road+Huntington,+WV.+25701?entry=gmail&source=g>.
> 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
>
>