Dr. Elwin Alva Saunders

Dr. Elwyn Alva Saunders
Professor Emeritus

Augusta, Ga – Dr. Elwyn Alva Saunders, age 80, of Augusta, beloved husband of Marceline Herndon Saunders, joined his heavenly family on Monday, May 17, 2010.

He is survived by his wife, his daughters: Patricia Whitby (Charles) of Macon, GA.; Linda Saunders of Augusta, GA; Karen Whitmer (Phil) of Fayetteville, GA; Gail Laserna (Carlos) of Ft. Worth, TX; Sharon Lee (John) of Augusta, GA; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his infant son: Davis Lee Saunders, II; sister: Juanita Saunders Puckett; brother: Davis Lee Saunders; father: John Alva Lee Saunders and mother: Una Mae Swindler Saunders.
Dr. Saunders was a native of Charleston, SC and a 1949 graduate of The Citadel. He received his MS from the Medical College of South Carolina in 1952 and his MD from Medical College of South Carolina in 1955. He interned at E.J. Meyer Hospital in New York and was a resident in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Maryland from 1957 until 1962. He was Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Vanderbilt University from 1962 until 1967 before moving to Augusta as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia. Upon his retirement in 1990, he received the honor of Emeritus Professor.
Dr. Saunders spent his lifetime devoted to God, family and medicine. As a medical teaching consultant with the Baptist Foreign Mission Board, he made nine medical teaching trips to countries throughout Eastern and Central Africa. He participated in the Medical College of Georgia’s network of specialty clinics treating disabled children throughout rural Georgia.
Dr. Saunders had an avid love for the low country salt marshes, sailing, fishing, gardening, humor, classical music and woodworking. He inherited from his father an attention to order and detail as exemplified by his precision in setting his collection of clocks to chime the hour in succession to assure hearing the unique melody of each one!
Dr. Saunders taught Sunday School for over 37 years at First Baptist Church of Augusta where he was also a deacon and member of the George Ballentine Sunday School Class.
A “Celebration of Life” Service will be held on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Greg DeLoach and Dr. John Alva Lee Saunders, II officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service (10:00 a.m.) in the rotunda of the church.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Augusta, Nehemiah Challenge, PO Box 14489, Augusta,GA 30919 or Georgia Health Sciences Foundation, Medical College of Georgia, Elwyn Saunders Orthopaedic Professorship Endowment, 919 Fifteenth St., Augusta, GA 30912. In keeping with his lifetime commitment to education and research, Dr. Saunders' body has been donated to the Medical College of Georgia.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com