Carlton Leroy Saunders

Our beloved, Mr. Carlton Leroy Saunders, 70, formerly of Jarvisburg, NC, departed from this life on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. 

Life Celebration Services will take place on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Jarvisburg, NC. Interment with military rites will follow in the church cemetery. 
 

Carlton Leroy Saunders was born on December 23, 1951 in Jarvisburg, North Carolina. He touched many lives with his loving spirit and positive outlook on life. He attended Currituck County schools, graduating from Currituck Union High School. He entered the U.S. Army a year after high school. Upon leaving the Army, he attended San Jose State University and graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.  He spent 40 years working in the aerospace industry with roles at Ford Aerospace, Loral Space Systems, and Lockheed Martin. He once traveled to the Seychelles to help launch a satellite.

Carlton joined the 82nd Airborne Division and was assigned to the Special Forces in Okinawa, Japan for four years. While serving, he met the love of his life, Valarie, when she was a junior in high school. They married shortly after her high school graduation and had two girls, Janine and Janelle, and three grandchildren, Bryson, Ashton, and Camilla. Carltonadored and pampered his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. We were spoiled y’all.

The joy of Carlton’s life was his family. He loved waking up on Saturday mornings to cook breakfast for Janine and Janelle. He also took them to the park, to the beach, on vacations, watched football games together, and cooked with the girls. His love of cooking was passed to his girls who love to cook for their own families. Carlton was a talented chef and enjoyed cooking for friends and family. He also loved traveling with his wife and they traveled to around 40 countries together. Visiting Kenya on safari was one of his favorite trips.

At an early age, Carlton attended Corinth Baptist Church in Jarvisburg, NC. Accepting Jesus Christ as a child and renewing his dedication to Christ in his early twenties, he joined Fremont Bible Fellowship Church in 1987. Carlton diligently served the congregation as a deacon. In 1997, he joined Abundant Life Christian Fellowship where he served as an elder. He oversaw the outreach ministry, served as a prayer counselor, and enjoyed helping with the parking ministry with his friends among other duties. His men’s bible study with Keith, Dwight, Anthony and Archelle was also a highlight.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Leon Saunders and Minnie Winslow Saunders. Carltonis survived by his beloved wife Valarie; his two daughters: Janine Saunders (Dionne) of Walnut Creek, CA, and Janelle Saunders of San Jose, CA; his three grandchildren: Bryson Cole, Ashton Grey, and Camilla Ann. He is also survived by his four siblings: Willie Leon Saunders of Jarvisburg, NC; Earl Saunders (Mary) of Fayetteville, NC;  Wilford Saunders of Fayetteville, NC; Jean Griffin of Cary, NC; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended family, and friends. His joy, laughter, and generous spirit will be missed by many. Always & Forever!

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