Harold Wolf Sanders

Harold Wolf Sanders, age 94 of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2016. He was born in New Oxford, PA on Wednesday, March 1, 1922. He started his musical career as a young boy playing the clarinet in the school band.After high school he went on to study music at Temple University in Philadelphia.Upon his graduation in 1943 he enlisted in the US Army and married his wife, Anne.Within a year he was on his way to Europe to serve as an armored infantry officer with Patton's army. During the war Harold fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a part of the Army of occupation. After the war Harold returned to Pennsylvania and started teaching band in East Berlin. Two years later, he and Anne moved to Biglerville where he built an incredible band program. His students went on to a wide variety of careers, many as professional musicians but far more in every line of work imaginable.His many students fondly remember their time in Mr. Sanders' Biglerville bands not only for the gift of music she shared with them but also for the guidance and love he showed them. After Biglerville, Harold went into school administration and retired from the Mechanicsburg Area School District in 1979. During most of this time he also served in the Army National Guard and U.S. Army reserves and retired as a Colonel - the other Colonel Sanders. Retirement wasn't a time for Harold to rest. He became active with the Harrisburg Musicians Union serving as the local president and playing clarinet in the band for around 20 years.He also taught clarinet and sax lessons to many area students. He was a gifted teacher who knew how to get the best out of his students. Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Anne Watkins Sanders and a son, Charles Harold who died at birth. He is survived by his daughter Beth who continues his musical legacy in Stockton, CA. Professional services are entrusted to Dugan Funeral Home, 111 S. Main Street, Bendersville, PA 17306. A Celebration of Harold Sanders' Life will be held Tuesday, June 7 with time and location to be determined.