Obituaries

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 ten 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 that 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 were also 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 is also 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 (419-874-3133). Condolences may be made to the family online at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.