Aggie

1911 – 2002

Richmond Times-Dispatch
Friday, June 7, 2002 

Owsley Winchester Sanders, 90, of Doswell, formerly of Richmond, died last Thursday, June 6, 2002. He is survived by one sister, Martha Sanders Oden of Richmond. Fondly known to all as “Aggie,” he was much loved by his four nieces and six nephews, who include Fran Davis, Richmond, Ann Disque, Johnson City, Tenn., Adair Littlepage, Devon, Pa., Sarah Tipson, Springfield, Ohio, Claude Reams, Key West Fla., George Reams, Vero Beach, Fla., Thomas Reams, Richmond, Charles Sanders, Irvington, Va., E. Lorraine Sanders, Spartanburg, S.C. and Wellford Sanders Jr., Richmond. Mr. Sanders attended Hampden-Sydney College and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was a WWII veteran, a member of the Sons of Colonial Wars, and a member of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 10 in Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, 3601 Seminary Ave., Richmond, Va. 23227, or your favorite charity.

Who was Aggie?  My wife’s uncle.  Really great friend.  The only person I was ever personally acquainted with who saw Babe Ruth play.  The Yankees were traveling north from Florida after spring training.  They stopped in Richmond to play an exhibition game.  I believe this was common at the time. Ruth didn’t actually get in the game but he did take a fungo bat and hit flies into the James River. To the best of my knowledge this would have been at a field on Mayo Island where the 14th Street Bridge crosses the river. He also remembered Charles Lindbergh landing during a national tour after his transatlantic crossing