ELDER CURTIS "BABE" SAUNDERS, age 93, of Bedford departed this life on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Oakwood Manor Nursing Home in Bedford. He was born May 17, 1918 to the late Fannie Jackson Saunders and Charlie Saunders. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Thompson Saunders, three daughters, Rosa Saunders, Mary Coles, and Irene Parker; four sisters, Lucille Saunders, Jean Robinson, Helen Hobson, and Jesse Jennings; seven brothers, Cleostis Saunders, Clifford Saunders, Raleigh Saunders, Casper Saunders, Carl Saunders, Elmer Saunders, and Rodney Saunders. Elder Saunders was a longtime member of Pure Gospel Holiness Church of God in Christ in Bedford where he served faithfully as Minister of the Gospel. He was a World War II Veteran serving in the United States Army and he retired from Sam Moore Furniture in Bedford, VA after many years of service. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Sally Saunders and Evangelist Fannie (Thomas) Lee, both of Bedford, VA; four grandchildren, five great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, one brother, Bishop Lynwood Saunders of Washington, D.C., one sister, Violet Saunders of Baltimore, MD, sons-in-law, Lorenzo Coles, Sr. and Samuel Parker of Bedford, VA, one sister-in-law, Verlie Mae Thompson of Bedford, a devoted niece, Arlene Autry of Petersburg, VA, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday and days before that too. We think of you in silence, we often speak your name; All we have now are memories, and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake, with which we will never part; God has you in his keep, we have you in our heart.