•DAVID (DAVE) ALLEN SAUNDERS

David (Dave) Allen Saunders of Perrysburg passed away peacefully at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, on Tuesday, April 16, after a brief illness. Dave was born in Toledo on February 10, 1931, to Lois (Long) and well-known serial comic strip writer and cartoonist Allen Saunders.

He attended Libbey High School where he met his wife, Charlotte (Gaynor). They were married on August 23, 1952, at historic First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, and were lifelong members. Dave was active as an elder, was responsible for the interior design of the current sanctuary, and aided in the preservation and renovation of both of the pipe organs.

He attended Wabash College in Evansville, Indiana, and after graduation was called to service late in the Korean War. Upon his return, he and Charlotte moved to Chicago, where he attended the Chicago Art Institute and also taught interior architectural

watercolor rendering. While there, he landed a position with Toledo area interior designer Clare Hoffman, and moved back to the area, first living in Maumee, then in Perrysburg. After 10 years with Hoffman’s firm, he left to establish his first studio, showroom and upholstery shop in Maumee. Later, after moving to Perrysburg, he purchased the closed Sunoco station building and property on the corner of Hickory and Front streets and had it expanded and converted into showrooms, offices and an upholstery shop. He had clientele who spread across the country, and often traveled to provide consultations and supervise installations on location. Although he eventually sold the Front Street building and moved to a much more modest location in Perry’s Landing in uptown Perrysburg, and finally to a small home office, he never stopped working in the field, reserving his time and efforts to only his oldest and most valued clients.

Outside of his active career as an interior designer, Dave and Charlotte both enjoyed an active sporting and social life, playing tennis, golf and paddle (platform) tennis, and had memberships at Belmont, Carranor Hunt and Polo and Toledo Country clubs. They also were part of a social group that regularly gathered to play duplicate bridge.

He and Charlotte traveled frequently, touring Portugal, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain and Greece. They also regularly spent time each winter in Sarasota and on Siesta Key, Florida.

They were both lovers of all kinds of music and theater, including operas, musicals and stage plays, and attended productions for many seasons in Stratford, Canada, and later attended Ohio Light Opera productions in Wooster, Ohio.

Dave was preceded in death by Charlotte (May 3, 2021), and is survived by their children, Cynthia “Cindy” Kurtz, Scott (Carol) and David; as well as three grandchildren, Timothy Kurtz (Sarah), John Saunders (Nina) and Cameron Saunders (Brandon), and four great-grandchildren, Calvin Saunders, Charlotte Saunders, Iris Saunders, Lydia Saunders, with a fifth great-grandchild due in June. He also is survived by his two sisters, Penny (Saunders) Carson and Lois Ann (Saunders) Morgan. He was predeceased by his brother, John (November 15, 2003).

He was interred in the memorial garden at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee in a private service. A memorial service is planned for late summer or early fall, also at First Presbyterian Church. Tributes may be made in his honor to the charitable organization of the donor’s choice.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home, Perrysburg. Condolences may be made to the family online at walkerfuneralhomes .com.

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