He was born in Paulding County, Ga., on Dec. 25, 1925, a son of the late Martin Vanburen Sanford and Hardy Terry Sanford. Mr. Sanford had been a resident of Polk County for the past 43 years moving here from Bartow County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army 16th Calvary, which saw action in the Philippines during World War II. He later served in the Korean Conflict. Mr. Sanford was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was a member of Brown-Wright Post No. 12 of the American Legion.
Mr. Sanford was a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church. He retired in 1988 from the Polk School District where he worked in the maintenance department as an electrician and HVAC technician. Mr. Sanford loved to work on tractors and enjoyed working in his garden. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mrs. Dorothy Ann Sanford on Dec. 7, 2007; and by five sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. June Holmes and husband Henry of Taylorsville; two sons, Mr. Ken Sanford and wife Brenda of Dallas, Ga., and Mr. Ronnie Sanford and wife Jean of Rockmart; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 9, at 2 p.m. in the Cornerstone Baptist Church with the Rev. George Chastain officiating. Interment will follow in the Cornerstone Baptist Church Cemetery with Brown-Wright Post No. 12 of the American Legion in charge of military graveside rites.
The grandsons serving as pallbearers will be David Hicks, Todd Sanford, Forrest Sanford, Kristopher Sanford, Terrell Kidd, Todd Whitner and Scooter Watkins. Honorary pallbearers will include Burney Collins, Cubby Powell, Jerry Free, Al Courrier, Mark Cantrell, Carey Hayes, Grady Hames, Curtis Folsom and Ed Roach.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
The Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.