"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 211, No 7, p 32, Jul-Aug 1989. Rev. Francis Davis Saunders of Milton, Wisconsin, joined the Church Triumphant on May 2, 1989 at the home of his son, Herbert, after a long illness. He was 75. "Pastor Fran" Saunders was born in Boulder, Colorado, on June 5, 1913, the son of Herbert and Myrle Saunders. On June 11, 1939, he married Lila M. Stephan in Nortonville, Kansas. He was a graduate of Salem College, Salem, West Virginia, in 1942,and attended Faith Theological Seminary in Wilmington, Delaware. While attending seminary he served as pastor of the first Seventh Day Baptist church, the Marlboro Church, in rural Bridgeton, New Jersey (1944-47). He was ordained during his pastorate in Denver, Colorado (1947-50) in 1947. He was pastor in North Loup, Nebraska (1950-56); Los Angeles, California (1956-65); Lost Creek, West Virginia (1965-71); the Pawcatuck Church in Westerly, Rhode Island (1971-75); and Farina, Illinois (1975-78). After his retirement in 1978, he became the manager of Camp Joy in Berea, West Virginia, and served the church in that community until moving to Milton in 1981. "Pastor Fran" enjoyed writing, which included many articles in The Sabbath Recorder and numerous lines of poetry. He enjoyed writing songs and hymns which were always arranged by his wife, Lila. During his retirement years, he wrote the "Comment on Scripture" section for The Helping Hand, the denominational Sabbath School Bible study guide. He served Seventh Day Baptists as a trustee of the American Sabbath Tract Society (1944-47), as a member of the Board of Managers of the SDB Missionary Society (1971-75), and as a member of the denominational Commission (1970-73). Pastor Fran's faith and witness to the love of Christ is evidenced by the fact that his three sons are in the ministry. Pastor Saunders is survived by his wife, Lila; his three sons, Herbert (Barbara), Stephan (Irene), and Daniel (Jessie); 11 grandchildren; and a brother, William, of Boulder. Memorial services were held on May 4, 1989, at the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church with his "pastor" and son, Herbert, officiating, assisted by Stephan and Daniel, and Executive Secretary Dale D. Thorngate. Interment is in Milton East Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Seventh Day Baptist Center on Ministry for the general scholarship fund for the training of pastors. The words of Jesus come to mind as we remember "Pastor Fran"; "Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over little, I will set you over much. Enter the joy of your Lord." HES "The Gazette Xtra", Janesville, Wisconsin, Sunday, May 21, 2006. MILTON- Lila Margaret (Stephan) Saunders, 87, was born in Nortonville, Kansas on Dec. 28, 1918, and died at Mercy Hospital surrounded by family on May 19, 2006. She was born to Claude and Rosa (DeLand) Stephan, the fifth of seven children. She attended Nortonville schools and was active in music and remained proud of her basketball achievements. She graduated in 1937 as valedictorian of her class and due to the economic situation was unable to go on to college. She took a one-year post-graduate class in business. In 1938-39 she attended Salem College, West Virginia on a scholarship. There she met Francis Davis Saunders, a ministerial student and they were married June 11, 1939. Together they spent 38 ½ years in ministry serving churches in Bridgeton, NJ, Denver, CO, North Loup, NE, Los Angeles, CA, Lost Creek, WV, Westerly, RI, and Farina, IL. For two years they served as resident managers of Camp Joy in Berea, WV. Upon retirement they moved to Milton, WI. In her life she worked in business as a secretary, taught music in the North Loup, NE High School, served as organist, pianist and choir director in many churches, and gave piano lessons. She considered the highlight of her musical career the direction of a 95 voice choir at a national Seventh Day Baptist General Conference in Nyack, NY in 1969. She delighted in interior decorating in every parsonage she lived in and each received her special touch. She was a member of the Madison Seventh Day Baptist Church and an active participant at the First Congregational Church in Milton. She was active at the Gathering Place and while she was still able, enjoyed playing the piano for sing-a-longs. Lila is survived by 3 sons: Herbert (Barbara), Stephan (Irene), and Daniel (Jesse); 11 grandchildren: Brian (Heidi), Peggy, and Michael (Heather) Saunders, Rebecca (Steve) Browning, Katrina (Andrew) Bayless, David (Becky Lynn) and Jonathan Saunders, Nathan (Shandi) and Jerome (April) Saunders, Katie (Phillip) Jarrell, Ruth Ann (Dennis) Cogar; and 16 great-grandchildren. She is survived by a brother, Marvin (Hazel) Stephan; and a sister-in-law, Frances Stephan. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Rosa and Austa; and 3 brothers: Harry, Melvin and Wendell. A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church , 741 E. High St., Milton , Wisconsin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2006. Visitation will be held at the Congregational Church from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Sunday. Memorials may be made to the Seventh Day Baptist Memorial Fund for P.R.O.P. (Pastor's Retirement Offering Project). Arrangements handled by the Whitcomb-Lynch-Albrecht Funeral Home. They Came to Milton http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=jonsaunders