Robert M. Sanford, 76, of Haslett, died Friday evening at the Hospice House of Mid Michigan after battling cancer for months.
Born Nov. 18, 1922, in Gaylord, he was the son of Volney and Dora (Hayes) Sanford.
Robert served with distinction on the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. On Nov. 16, 1944, T/Sgt. Sanford’s B-17 received a direct hit from flak just five seconds after “bombs away” over targeted railway yards in Innsbruck, Austira. With three engines inoperable, Flight Engineer Sanford rendered invaluable and life saving assistance in keeping his bomber aloft for 300 miles, thus enabling the crew to bail out over northern Italy. Behind enemy lines and reported missing in action for six months, Robert was able to elude enemy detection and fight his way to freedom in May of 1945.
Robert returned to Michigan and married Nettie F. Williams who also succumbed to lung cancer in 1996. He retired from General Motors Tech Center in Warren in 1980. Subsequently, he and Nettie moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where together they enjoyed 16 years of retirement.
Survivors include his daughter, Valerie J. (Terry) Applegate of Haslett; son Robert J.(Ruth) Sanford of East Lansing; two sisters, Shirley (Roy) Smith of Ypsilanti and Leila Pocialik of Illinois; six grandchildren, Jerald Reis, Janelle (Brian) Compton, Alison Sanford, Michael Sanford, Megan Sanford, and Aaron Applegate; and many special nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm today at the Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley. Funeral services will be held at 11am. Tuesday at the funeral home; the Rev. Richard Applegate will officiate. Burial will be in the Clark Cemetery in Springfield Township.
