Ernest Edward "Ed" Sanders

Ernest Edward “Ed” Sanders, 78, of Hendersonville, died Monday, May 5, 2025 at Autumn Care of Drexel.

A native of Cordele Ga, he was a son of the late McKinley and Frances Griffin Sanders. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Verdie Belle Sanders who died in 2023 as well as a brother, Donald Sanders.

Ed was a proud veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After graduating from Clyde A. Erwin High School, he went on to receive his Associates degree from Asheville Buncombe Technical College. He was a long-time member and officer of the Mountain Home chapter of the Lions Club.

Ed loved to trout fish and camp in Cherokee with his wife Verdie and their friends. He loved sports, especially baseball and basketball and was a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan. He spent many seasons coaching his sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He was heavily involved in the Henderson County Babe Ruth Baseball Association. He was also a big NASCAR fan and loved Dale Earnhardt and attended many NASCAR races in Atlanta, Charlotte and Daytona.

Ed is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Dean Sanders of Virginia Beach, VA and Gregory Allen Sanders of Hendersonville; two sisters, Brenda Sanders Jones and Wanda Sanders Keyros, both of Wildwood, FL. as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service. The committal service will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, Ed’s family graciously asks that you consider making a contribution in his memory to Eliada Home.