Patrick Saunders

YOUNGSTOWN-Services will be Thursday at 11:00 AM at the Highway Tabernacle Church for Patrick M. Saunders age 49 of Ivy Hills Drive, formerly of Edinburgh Dr., Austintown who passed away suddenly Sunday afternoon from complications from a stroke he had suffered Saturday afternoon. Pat was born May 25, 1954, in Youngstown, the son of John L. and Mary Rita Donnelly Saunders. He was currently serving as the Steel Valley area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the past three years, He had also worked as the sports director for WFMJ channel 21 for over 15 years, and had formerly worked at the U.S. Steel Ohio works for 10 years, and after its closing at Calvary cemetery in Youngstown. He was a 1972 graduate of Chaney High School, had attended Youngstown State University, and was currently completing his Bachelors Degree at Malone College. He was a member of the Highway Tabernacle Church where he was a member of its Men's Core group, and served as an Usher. He was a member of the school board for the Youngstown Christian School, was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle Leader for Y. S. U. and numerous local High Schools, had couched youth baseball for the Millcreek baseball league, and for many years had coached numerous YMCA youth athletic teams. He was a member of the Youngstown Cursillo, and had been a member of several renewal teams at St. Joseph Church, and was a member of the Boardman Rotary.He is survived by his wife the former Lori L. Zenn whom he married August 16, 1991. A loving father he is survived by two daughters Casie M. Saunders, and Faith N. Saunders, a son Bryce P. Saunders all at home, two sisters, Mary R. and her husband Fred Capogreco, and Loretta Saunders, a brother John "Red" Saunders all of Youngstown, a sister in law Barbara Saunders, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son Patrick, and a brother Joseph L. Saunders. Friends may call from 4 PM to 8 PM Tuesday and from 4 PM to 8 PM Wednesday at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, where a Cursillo prayer service will be held at 7:45 PM and Thursday morning one hour prior to services at the Highway Tabernacle Church.The family requests that material tributes take the form of donations to either the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 108 Western Reserve Rd. suite # 1 Youngstown, Ohio 44514, or the Saunders Children's trust Fund in care of the funeral home. This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to www.higgins-reardon.com