On June 3, 2009, William Henry Sanders, II joined his ancestors in the sky. William was born on Feburary 24, 1917, in Princeton, W. Va., the son of Ina Hylton Sanders and Hartley Poe Sanders. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Sarah Sanders and Caroline Sterrett. He received his undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon Mens College and his law degree from University of Virginia in 1942. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corp. He served as Line Officer in the First Battalion, Second Marine Division, decorated by Admiral Nimitz twice, the Purple Heart at Pearl Harbor Hospital and the Navy Cross, the highest medal given by the United States Navy. He later received the Bronze Star as A Company Commander and the only commissioned officer still standing after an attack on Saipan Island. He served 32 months in the Pacific Theater in the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. He was discharged with the rank of Major in 1946. After the war, he returned to University of Virginia Law School where, at his request, the University started an international law program, William being the first lawyer to graduate with a Masters of International Law. While at the University, he met and married the love of his life, Katherine Little Sanders. This month they have been married for 63 years. As part of his Masters program, he served two years as an Assistant Staff Secretary to the Staff of US Military Governor General Lucius Clay in Berlin Germany until 1948. He then returned to Princeton where he joined his fathers law practice. During his years of practice, he championed human rights, fought for the injured and became the advocate for people who needed a champion of their cause. He served as President of the Mercer County Human Rights Council, worked tirelessly for the Shawnee Parkways, and taught a mens bible class at the First Methodist Church. William is survived by his wife Katherine and their four children, David Hartley Sanders, a Judge in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia; Mary Hylton Sanders and William Henry Sanders, III, both lawyers; and Katherine Todd Koerner. They have eight grandchildren, Emily, Katherine, James, Sarah, William, Adam, Rebecca, and Mattie Todd, and one great-grandchild, Mary. After retiring from active practice of law, William dedicated his life to collecting the history of the town of Princeton, writing his first book about the town. He researched the first settlers of the Bluestone, the Clay and Lilly families, and several other books, to preserve the history of the people of this region for future generations. He wrote and published 13 books. He had a profound love for Mercer County, its founders and their descendants. A service to celebrate the life of Mr. William Henry Sanders II will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 6, 2009 from the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest on Mercer Street, Princeton with Father William Armstrong and Paul Kane serving as the celebrants. Burial will follow in the Resthaven Memorial Park in Princeton with military graveside service will be conducted by the U.S. Marine Corp. Mr. Sanders body will be taken to his home at Sandrine Pointe Drive, Princeton where friends may visit with the family today (Friday) from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the residence. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to the Mercer County Historical Society.