Sylvester G. Sands

Sylvester G “Snowy” Sands, 91, passed away Saturday, March 7 at Alexian Village, his home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He was born March 23, 1917 in Marshall County, Indiana to George and Sarah Joyce Sands. He was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers; Edna Sensibaugh, Thelma Sisk, Martha Peterson, Richard Sands and Herbert Sands. He and Shirley Hendrix Sands were married for 48 years before her death in 1987. He served as a St. Joseph, Michigan fireman for 30 years before retiring with the rank of lieutenant. Snowy loved time spent with his family and friends, as well as fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed his years spent in Florida after retiring, and the past 11 years at Alexian Village on Signal Mountain.< Snowy leaves behind his wife of 20 years, Violet M. (Swank) Christman Sands, two daughters, Barbara (Daniel) Balbach of Ann Arbor and Bonnie (William) Lang of Westfield, Indiana and a stepson, Jeffery (Sherry) Christman of Bucyrus, Ohio. He also leaves 5 grandchildren: Jane (Steven) Norris of Greensboro, NC, John (Saundra) Balbach of Ann Arbor; Annette Pavlides of Fortville, IN, Cherie (Todd) Korn of Fort Wayne, and Kenny (Kindra) Lang of Indianapolis. There are 10 great grand children that will miss his presence; Justin Umberger, Brooke and Tyler Korn, John, William and Daniel Norris, Mason and Audrey Lang, and Johann and Winston Balbach. A celebration of his life will be held 11:30 A.M. Saturday, March 14 at the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Michigan. Visitation will begin at 10:30 A.M. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alexian Resident's Scholarship Fund, 437 Alexian Way, Signal Mountain, TN 37377