Jim Robert Sanford
January 6, 1947 ~ February 5, 2010
Resided in:
Arden, NC
James "Jim" Robert Sanford, 63, of Arden, died Friday, February 5, 2010 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Hospice Solace Center in Asheville.
A native of Richmond County, NC, he was a son of the late Paul and Annie Ruth Ormsby Sanford. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Paula Farr and Nancy Miller.
Jim was a member of Arden Presbyterian Church, where he served as Deacon, Elder and Sunday school teacher. He retired as unit manager of the Asheville office of Vocational Rehabilitation and was co-owner of Teacher's Edition on Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Many knew him through his involvement with the South Buncombe Youth Leagues.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patricia "Tricia" Bobbitt Sanford; one daughter, Shawna Sanford Butcher and her husband, Chad, of Arden; one son, Ryan Sanford and his wife, Christie, of Durham, NC; one sister, Sara Tanner of Rockingham, NC; three grandchildren, Kassi and Will Butcher and Carter Sanford as well as several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 PM on Monday, February 8, 2010 at Arden Presbyterian Church with the Reverends Ken Crabb and Ed Graham officiating.
The family will receive friends from 3:00-4:00 PM on Monday at the church.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 12, 2010 at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard.
Memorial donations may be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
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Jim, you will be missed greatly. You had a temendous impact on my life, and I am forever grateful. I am keeping your family in my prayers.
Dear Tricia and family,
My heart goes out to you at this time. Jim was such a nice person and so pleasant when he visited the schools. You all have my deepest sympathy.
With love,
Diana Trull Warren
Tricia,
You and your family are in our prayers. So sorry to hear the news.
We send our thoughts and prayers to the wonderful family of an old friend. May his memory shine brightly and comfort you quietly.
With our deepest condolences,
Dianne and Ken
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Jim will certainly be missed by everyone who knew him. Arbie Rhodes
Sanford family, Your husband,father,
dear friend will be greatly missed. I am sorry to hear about your loss.
Jim was a great person and it was my pleasure to have known and worked with him. I am keeping your family in my prayers
Dear Tricia, Shawna, & Ryan, Diana Warren emailed me today of Jim’s passing. I stand in total shock at this news and send you all my prayers for your hearts to be made strong by our Loving Heavenly Father in whose presence Jim is living. I love you all, Mary.
Tricia,Shawna,Ryan,
We are so very sorry for your loss.Jim is one of a kind and will be missed by all. He spoke of you all every time we saw him..he loved you and those grandchildren were his pride and joy. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
So many memories of Jim through years of working with him at HR Block. He will definately be missed by all. Love and prayers to his family.
We are so sorry for your loss. Jim was such a wonderful man. He always talked of his family and especially those grandchildren. We will miss him.
Shawna and family, I am so sorry! Your dad was such a sweet man. He will be missed dearly. He seemed to be enjoying driving the school bus. He would come in in the morning with such a sweet spirit about him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I am so sorry for your loss.I had the honor of knowing Jim while working at Mission and he at Voc REhab. I have never known a more kind,caring,humble man.May the good memories make your loss bearable.
Dear Sanford Family, I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Sanford. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Sanford Family, My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. May your wonderful memories sustain you.
To the Sanford Family:
My condolences and prayers are with you during your sudden and timely loss. We (all who knew him) lost a good and kind soul when Jim left us.
Jean McWilliams, Voc Rehab, 1995 -2006
We love Jim and will miss his smile, humor and his loving way he treated us. Our wonderful memories of Jim will last forever.
Trudy and Marshall Alexander
Jim was such a caring, friendly and kind man…always joyful. He never failed to greet me at the Teacher’s Edition with a smile and would always ask how my son Mark was doing. His smile and laughter was infectious. Jim will be missed, but his JOY is now so full.
Jim.. In working with him I found a kind, caring, compationate, and all around good man. He talked highly of his family and friends as well as a person he may have just met. This is a man that will truely be missed. I hope that you and your family will find peace and comfort in knowing that his suffering is over and that his just rewards await him.
May God bless you and your wonderful family.
Yours In Faith,
Ed & Cindi
Jim will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him. I worked with Jim at Vocational Rehabilitation and remember him to always smile and enjoy life. He enjoyed helping others and our lives have all been touched by knowing him. Jim’s family is in my thoughts and prayers. May God hold each of you in His loving arms.
Jim was a kind and compassionate person and a strong advocate for those with disabilities. I first met Jim when I cam to Asheville in 1994 as Director of Handi-Skills and quickly developed a respect for him and his leadership at VR. He will surely be missed. Rest in peace Jim.
Jim and I started with VR about the same time. We had an immediate bond in our allegience to UNC-Chapel Hill. We remained friends throughout our employment with the agency and even into retirement/new careers. Jim, I will miss you. Deepest condolences to the family. Jim was one of the good guys.
Charles Penland
Jim and I go back to the 70’s. I have always considered him a good friend and Christian brother. His work ethic and dependability were second to none. Jim always put others ahead of himself, both those VR served and his co-workers.
He is missed. I look forward to seeing him again there.
Henry Dowling
Isa. 41:10
Tricia, Shawna & Ryan:
We are so saddened to hear about Jim. He was truly one of the ‘good guys’ in this world and will be greatly missed. We have very fond memories of the South Buncombe Youth League days.
Please know that we are holding each of you in our thoughts and prayers.
Shawna – My heart hurts for you and your family. Please know that my love and prayers are with you.
Tricia and family,
I am saddened to hear about Jim. He helped me so much, so many times! I was the Director of Handi-Skills for several years and his support of that program was so critical!
For any of us to live a life that mattered, that changed even one life for good, is to have succeeded. That would be Jim! Jim mattered!
Peggy Rogers Withrow
Counselor, mentor, encourager, teacher, co-worker, friend. These are just a few of the words that describe Jim to me. I would not be the person I am today if I had not known him as all of these and more. My life will never be the same. Farewell my friend!! Receive the crown of righteousness laid up for you!! My deepest sympathy to the family. You are in my prayers.
Tricia and family,
Our family has been deeply saddened by all the events of this last week leading up to Jim’s untimely death. He always had a smile for everyone. Nicolas has been especially grieved by the loss of Jim. We wish you comfort and grace during this time.
Dear Sanford Family,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. I knew Jim for a number of years in Voc. Rehab. He was a fine man who I enjoyed knowing and working with. When Jim Retired I gave him a hat that was signed by the UNC basketball team-even though I am a Duke fan. I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Barry A. Lippard
I’m so sorry for the loss of this kind man. I had the privilege of working at the Census Bureau in the Asheville office with Jim.
Dear Trisha and children,
I was so sorry to hear about Jim’s death. I am on a trip to Watertown,NY . And on Sunday I had stopped in PA for the night and was reading our asheville paper and saw the article . I am so sorry i wasn’t able to be there yesterday for the service. Please know that you are being prayed for and I know that God will be your great Comforter.
Sanford family,
I was blessed to have the opportunity to get to know Jim in my outreach efforts for VR and IL services for those with disabilities during my career with the State VR Agency. My prayers are with you at this time; but I trust you can take solace, even in the midst of the loss of Jim, in the comments in this guestbook. They are a wonderful testimony to his life here and, I believe, to the one he is living eternally.
I was saddened to hear Jim was gone. He was a good man and did his best for people with disabilities. I know he is very proud of each of you. Please remember him as he was.
I am sorry I was unable to attend his funeral due to sickness.
Dear Mrs. Sanford and family,
We are deeply saddened to hear about Jim’s passing. We met him a few months ago when he was our teacher at H&R Block. He was a friendly, kind, and wonderfully-encouraging instructor. We thought of Jim as our friend. Please accept our sincere condolences.
When I was a student of management at UNCA I completed my internship at N. C. Vocational Rehabilitation when Jim was the manager. I always enjoyed talking to him as well as the other employees which led to a very satisfying internship. The news of his death came as a shock to me and I surely want to extend my sincerest condolences to his family.
I worked with Jim on several committees and respected his for his insights and dedication. He was a fine man. My sympathy is extended to the family during this time of loss.
Dear Sanford Family,
I just learned of Jim’s passing today. I worked for Jim with the Census beginning in March of 2009 and not only met a great mentor but a real and lasting friend who kept in touch with everyone with his heartfelt e-mails about the good things in life. I feel proud and richer to have known him. What a wonderful man. My heart goes out to his family.
I am so sorry to read about Jim! I was looking on line and ran across this memorial. I just cannot believe it. Jim was always so friendly and nice. I would see him at the gas station and he always asked about my boys. Please know how sad I feel for all of you. My prayers are with you all.
I saw the notice of Jim’s death in the Carolina Alumni magazine. My husband Weaver Rogers died March 23, 2008. He was a college friend of Jim/s. Patricia and Jim attended our wedding at Lake Junaluska on Sept. 5, 1970. My heart goes out to Tricia and the family. I know how difficult it is to lose the love of your life, Tricia.
My mother lives in indendent living at Givens Estates near Arden, so I am in the area often.
With sympathy,
Brenda Hyde Rogers
919-215-6734 (cell)