In Memoriam: Charles William Saunders, Jr

Charles William Saunders, Jr.

August 28, 1942 – June 10, 2024

Charles William Saunders, Jr., of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away at age 81 on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Heritage Greens Senior Living Center.

Charles was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, to the late Charles W. Saunders, Sr. and Doris Jefferson Saunders on August 28, 1942.  He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Eden, North Carolina.

Charles served his country as a Lieutenant in the United States Army and graduated from Wofford College and the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill.  He built a distinguished career at First Union Bank, later Wachovia and Wells Fargo, advising clients on financial planning as a trust officer.  He was a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Greensboro Bar Association.

Charles was very active, running marathons and pursuing outdoor adventures across the world.  He was involved with First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro as well as Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Charles committed himself fully to fostering youth and community development.  He was a board member of A & T State University, the Guilford Child Development Center, Greensboro Rotary, Senior Resources of Guilford, and North Carolina for Community and Justice.  Through a volunteer reading program, he met and mentored Trae White, who became a family friend.

Charles is survived by his wife, Victoria Vanstory Saunders; his step-daughters Kelly Youngken Smith (Rob) of Arlington, Virginia, and Abigail Youngken Compton (Matthew) of Arlington, Virginia; four grandsons; niece Deb Stewart of Raleigh, North Carolina, and nephews Barry Gillespie of Geneva, Alabama, Tim Gillespie of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Bradley Gillespie of Acworth, Georgia.  His parents and his sister, Ann Gillespie, precede him in death.