Wayne Leroy Sanders, 84, of Salem, Ohio died peacefully in his home Friday, September 9, 2022 at 2:47 PM and is now with his Lord and Savior.

He was born on November 22, 1937 in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, son of the late Frank Sanders and Yola Fern (Craton) Sanders. He grew up and graduated from high school in La Grange, Wyoming. Early in life, he chose to serve Jesus and he lived his life to serve others. He completed the Christian Worker's Course at God's Bible School in Cincinnati, OH in 1958. On May 31 of that year he married Eileen Montgomery. Wayne served 30 years as a missionary in Haiti and Ethiopia. He also pastored churches at Paoli, IN; Falconer, NY; Sarver, PA; and Middlefield, OH. He was an ordained minister in the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection.

Wayne cared deeply about the spiritual well-being of those he encountered daily and was quick to give encouragement to those who needed counseling. He enjoyed family time, games, camping, traveling, and gardening.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eileen Marie (Montgomery) Sanders, his 4 children, Iona Kay (Timothy) White of Brown City, MI; Victor Wayne (Ruth) Sanders of Salem, OH; Darlene Lynette (Timothy) Young of Salem, OH; Connie Lou Sanders of Alberton, MT; as well as 8 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Shirley Keith Sanders.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM, Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at the Salem Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1095 Newgarden Ave, Salem, OH, with Pastors Stanley Grabill and Devan Gray officiating. To view the service online: https://salemwmchurch.org/

Arrangements were lovingly made by Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services of Salem.