Civitan "Will" Sandridge, 85

Shirley Wilson (Will) Sandridge, 85, of Salisbury passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, at Liberty Lane VA Hospital, Salisbury, surrounded by his wife, Laura, and close friends. Born Sept. 5, 1931 in Rockingham County, Va., Will was the son of the late George Ira Sandridge and Vada Blosser Sandridge. Will graduated from Anacostia High School, Washington, D.C. and attended James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

A retired US Army Veteran Will served 23 and a half years with tours in Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Belgium, Maryland and Virginia. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit and The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. After closing his polygraph business in Florida, Will continued to serve his community working as a Special Education teacher with the Rowan-Salisbury School system. He was a life-long Mason, Shriner and a member of Civitan, supporting numerous charity events. Will was a member of Fulton Masonic Lodge #99, Rowan Shrine Club as well as Oasis Temple, Charlotte and a member of Samuel C. Hart American Legion #14. He was recently awarded the Civitan Honor Key Award, of which he was very proud. He was also a member of the Carolina Chapter of Military Officers Association, and served as a member of the Board of Directors. Will was also past Sergeant of Arms and a member of the Board of Directors with the Salisbury Civitan Club. He enjoyed a number of “hobbies” such as camping, judging professional BBQ events and barber-shop singing. Will was a member of Neel Road Baptist Church, Salisbury.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Millard Sandridge of Harrisonburg, Va. and Norris Sandridge of Richmond, Va.; and his step-mother, Mary Ann Sandridge of Bridgewater, Va. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Laura Mobley Sandridge, whom he married June 15, 1996; two sons, Steve (Gretchen) Sandridge of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Kevin Sandridge of Winter Haven, Fla.; two grandchildren, Colleen Sandridge and Beryl Sandridge; a sister, Mary Ellen Ramsey (Charles) of Waynesboro, Va. He is also survived by a special sister-in-law, Mary Anne Sandridge; and two special aunts, Pauline Ludholtz and Lottie Ritchie, all of Harrisonburg, Va., as well as a number of nieces and nephews and the cherished Baker family.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Shriners Hospital for Children , 950 West Faris Rd., Greenville, SC 29605 or to the Neel Road Baptist Church – Building Fund. Visitation and Service: Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 12:30 p.m., at Neel Road Baptist Church, 135 Neel Rd., Salisbury, NC with Rev. Tim McQueen and Pastor Wayne Wright officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Salisbury Civitan Club will be seated together for the service. The committal service will follow at 2 p.m., at the Salisbury Historic National Cemetery with full military honors and Masonic rites.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.summersettfuneralhome.com. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care of Rowan County, Hospice of the W.G. Hefner Medical Center and Bayada Nursing for the wonderful care and love shown to Mr. Sandridge. Summersett Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Sandridge family.