Roy E. Sanner
April 16, 1956 ~ June 16, 2009
Obituary - Roy E. Sanner Roy E. Sanner, 53, of 514 Fox St., Franklin, the Valley Grove School District athletic director and longtime Rocky Grove High School boys basketball coach, died at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Sanner also coached many other boys and girls sports teams and was a transportation, custodial and building and grounds supervisor for the Valley Grove district. Born April 16, 1956, in Franklin, he was the son of Lloyd and Marjorie Free Sanner, and they both survive. He was a Cranberry High School graduate, where he starred in basketball and scored more than 1,000 points. He was also a standout in the local men's softball leagues. Mr. Sanner was employed in the warehouse at Joy Manufacturing in Franklin from 1981 to 1982. Mr. Sanner was hired by Valley Grove School District on Feb. 23, 1987, and his service time as a district employee totaled more than 22 years. He had worked as a coach in the district prior to his official hiring. He was the athletic director from 1996 until the present time, and he was the varsity boys basketball coach for 21 years from 1984-2005, accumulating more than 300 victories. He was also the varsity girls basketball coach from 2006 until the present time. Mr. Sanner coached seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball from 1984-1990, 1998-2001 and 2001-2004, junior high girls basketball from 1989-1992 and 1994-1998 and elementary basketball from 1992-1996, and he was the second assistant girls basketball coach from 1994-1998. Mr. Sanner also coached girls softball from 1990-2004, was the first assistant junior varsity boys volleyball coach last year and was the assistant golf coach last year. He was the custodial and transportation supervisor from 1996-1999, the custodial supervisor again from 2001-2004, the supervisor of buildings and grounds from 2004 to the present time, and the stage manager from 2001-2008. Mr. Sanner is survived by his parents, Lloyd and Marjorie Sanner of Seneca; two children, Chad Sanner of Pittsburgh and Tiffany Montgomery and her husband, Joshua, of Seneca; two grandchildren, Jordan Montgomery and Hunter Montgomery, both of Seneca; and one brother, Edward Sanner and his wife, Jeannette, of Cooperstown. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Gardinier Funeral Home Inc. in Franklin. A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. The Rev. Joseph P. Martin, pastor of Cooperstown United Methodist Church, will officiate at the service. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial service open to the public will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Rocky Grove High School gymnasium. Memorials may be made to the Roy Sanner Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Ken Brannon, 2082 U.S. 62, Oil City, 16301; or the Rocky Grove Athletic Boosters Club in care of Floyd O'Neil, 188 Phillips Drive, Franklin, 16323. Condolences may be sent online at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com
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Roy was such a good friend to my brother Kevin over the years. Kevin really looked up to him and they enjoyed spending time together. He will be sadly missed and always in our thoughts.
Sorry for your loss.
Mr. Sanner will be greatly missed. I remember when I was having difficulties with other teammates my Senior year and he expressed to me how well I handled myself during those real tough moments. There will be an emptiness left in the heart of the Rocky Grove Family.
Chad,
I am sorry about your father. From what I hear he was a GREAT man.You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever need anything give me a call.
Sincerely,
Samantha Paden
I am very sorry to hear of the loss of such a great human being. He was a huge inspiration to everyone he came into contact with. To the family and friends, you are all in my thoughts and prayers!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family along with all the “grovers” that will miss Roy as much as we will.
Roy Sanner was a great coach, but most importantly he was a great man. His warmth and genuine demeanor were noticed by all. As a former player, Roy coached us in the fundamentals of basketball, but more importantly he coached us in the fundamentals of life. He taught us the importance of hard work, teamwork, doing things correct the first time, and being respectful to everyone.
Although he is no longer physically with us, his legacy and memory will live on through the young men and women he mentored and influenced along the way. Whether you were a student, athlete, co-worker, friend or family member, Roy touched our lives in so many ways. It is up to us to carry on the values and principals he instilled in us to our children, students and our communities.
To his immediate family I am terribly sorry for this tragic event. You are in my prayers as you move forward.
Coach Sanner will be sadly missed. He helped shape me into the man I am today, and I will always be grateful.
Chad,
Very sorry to hear the news about your father and I’m sure he will be missed by many throughout the community. My thoughts are with you and your extended family.
With Warmth,
Jeff Loeffert
OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME.
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND COMFORT YOU.
My thoughts are with Roy’s family. I am deeply saddened by his passing. My dad was Howard “Bud” Sanner. I remember when I was in 7th grade my dad would take me to all of Roy’s basketball games. I believe Roy was a senior at the time. He was amazing to watch and I was very proud of him. I know this is very difficult for the family. Please take comfort that Roy is at peace in a beautiful place, and I imagine that my dad was one of the first to greet him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Sanner was such a positive role model for the students of Rocky Grove High School. He showed everyone respect and kindness, and was a great example of how to be a productive, giving, outstanding person to so many people in the community.
Mr. Sanner was a wonderful man and a role model to so many. I’m so sorry to hear of his death. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss. Chad, Tiffany and the rest of your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this very tough time. Mr. Sanner will be greatly missed but fondly remembered! God Bless you all.
My prayers and condolences go out to both families. I am so sorry for your loss. God Bless.
Tiffany and Chad, I’m so sorry about the loss of your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Roy & I went through high school together at Cranberry and graduated together in 1974. He was the sort of person you knew would succeed, especially in the teaching and sports world. Roy would give us girls on the basketball team tips and always had a smile on his face. My heart aches for his family. As the song goes, “Only the good die young”. Cherish the memories, I am sure he made many. Roy, you may be gone, but will never forgot.
I never met Roy personally, but read about him often in the sports column in the paper when he was in school and during his employ with the Valley Grove School District. Such a huge loss for so many people who knew him. My thoughts & prayers are with his family
Words cannot express the sadness that I feel in my heart. He was a great man, that will be missed by many. He touched many lives, and so many of us have great memories of him.
Chad, Tiffany….my heart is with you both. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
May the Lord put his healing hands upon your hearts at this very sad time, Tiff and Chad you and your family are in my prayers.
What a great cousin Roy was! So many happy memories we have all shared throughout the years. He was always laughing, smiling, and joking around. He has touched so many lives. It is not fair that he had to leave us so soon. I will miss him very, very much. God’s peace be with you my dear cousin and Uncle Lloyd, Aunt Marjorie, Eddie, Jeanette, Chad, Tiffany, and family.
Love, Susie
I am very sorry for your loss. Roy was a great man.
My heartfelt sympathies to your family. Roy will be greatly missed at RGHS.
I will always remember Roy from the Summer Cranberry Softball, he would umpire for us and was a very great person. He was always ready to explain his call or explain the rules to the coaches after we would argue with him. He will be sadly missed by all of the community for his role with coaching, umpiring and just being there for us. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and Rocky Grove HS. The Dehner’s
Tiffany and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I just lost my father in March and I understand your pain and sadness. If you ever need a shoulder to lean on I am here for you. You have my greatest sympathy.
Ann Ramsey
I am deeply sorry for you loss. Roy was a great man and a wonderful role model for our school and community. He will be greatly missed.
I’m very sorry for your loss.
The world has lost a wonderful man who touched so many lives. I first met Roy when he coached my all star team when I was 15. He loved to teach and make an impact on young people. I later had an opportunity to coach with him and learned that coaching was not about winning or losing, it was about making a positive impact with the players. Roy, you will be missed dearly.
I was deeplly saddened to hear of Roys’ accident and passing. I remember him always being around the school. I know that his presence will forever be felt and missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Chad and Tiff,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. He was such a great man, an inspiration to all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a role model to all he coached. He was so important to all of us in the Rocky Grove Community and Rocky Grove will never be the same without your dad. I pray that you find comfort in your loved ones and your friends to help you through this difficult time. My thoughts are with you.
Love,
Lisa
Chub & Lloyd and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you thru this difficult time that you have to endure. Remember to trust in the Lord and he will guide you thru this. Roy will be well remembered thru all of his accomplishments.
God Bless,
Sharri
Coach Sanner will be missed! He and Ms. Struthers were both wonderful people and the grove will not be the same with out them.. My heart goes out to the family..
Sanner family, my heart breaks thinking of the lose you are going through. Mr. Sanner touched my life in such a special way. i know it is my responsibility to pass that on to the people in my life. i will always remember him and the special person he was. love and prayers.
Uncle Lloyd & Aunt Marjorie, Eddie & Jeannette, Chad & Tiffany, I am so sorry for your tragic loss. Roy was such a fun and kind cousin. I cherish my memories of him. May you find comfort that he is in Heaven now surrounded by loved ones who have passed on.
With love, Karen
I am so very sorry for your loss. I graduated with him and my kids went to RGHS. He will be missed so very much. God Bless you all as you go on in life. I will be praying for all of you.
Jill (Cozad) and Bob Alden and Sam Alden.
Mr. Sanner was greatly loved member of the Rocky Grove community. As a former student of Rocky Grove, I remember he always had a smile to greet everyone that passed his way. I agree with the newspaper when they said that no one was better suited to be Mr. Rocky Grove. He will be greatly missed and I’m sure the school will never quite be the same. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family and loved ones.
Tiffany and family:
My sincere condolences go out to all of you! Tiff, I know how close you were to your father. I am sorry I couldn’t be there. He was a good man! My thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless~
Tiff, there are no words that I could say to take the pain away, but I just wanted to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Prayers,
Meagan and Ken
Chad, Tif, and rest of family,
We mourn with you and your family.
Our thoughts and prays are with you all. It is a terrible loss.
Roy was always a good friend and a good advisor to me and my girls. I remember once when Roy was coaching the girls softball team. He kept telling Mandy she could play left field. She just needed to believe in herself. She could do it. That gave Mandy confidence in herself. She did a good job. She caught a long fly ball and surprised herself. But Roy wasn’t surprised at all. He just said, “He new she could do it”. To me that showed his leadship qualities. I remember always stopping to talk to him when I worked at the High School. He always made you feel special and you could just relax around him. He will be sadly missed. My family wishes you God’s peace and comforting arms during this time. Jim, Bernie Frank, Amanda Burns, Melinda Meyer
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family in this time of terrible loss. Roy’s star will shine brightly in heaven.
El and Tiff,
I am so sorry about your loss. Your dad was such a great man to everyone he met. I loved his laugh! He had a terrific laugh. He touched so many people throughout his life, he has a strong legacy which will be carried throughout RG for years and years!
You are all in my prayers.
Love, Tiff
Words at this time do not convey the loss you are feeling. Roy will be deeply missed by all those he came in contact with. One can only hope that when we are chosen to leave this life, those we leave behind are better for knowing us. Roy fulfilled that and more…mainly through his children…you are both wonderful people and friends! Not to mention the love and respect he showed for his mom and dad. Those things alone are more than anyone can ask for! In the several years I’ve come to know him (mostly through Chad Bell’s stories and memories), my respect and love for him has grown immensly. He will be missed tremendously in our household! Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Anytime – night or day. You will forever be in our hearts, as will Roy. We not only call you a friend, but a part of a huge family that Roy created. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Roy made such an impact on the lives of so many, he was a wonderful coach, and friend. He truly will be missed.
What a tragic loss for your family and the entire community. Roy gave so much of himself to the school and shaped the lives of so many who come up through the Valley Grove School system. My deepest regrets for your loss; your family has been and continues to be in my thoughts.
All my best,
Bill Baker
Our deepest sympathies to your family. Roy was a wonderful person and a great influence to all. You all will be in our hearts and prayers. May God Bless you during this difficult time.
Jacki(Reina), Matt and Carson Bender
My thoughts and prayers are with all of Roy’s family at this tragic time. I graduated with Roy in 1974 and remember going to my first birthday party when I was a little girl when the family lived down at Van by Slye’s store. As time goes by we often lose contact with friends from school but I was proud to read of all that he accomplished in such a short time. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
Roy was a kind man and a true friend. He
will be missed by myself and many others.
Our thoughts & prayers are with the entire family, especially Tif & Chad.
Our sons ( Pat & George) both played for Roy and learned so much from him.
May God be with your entire family through this very difficult time.
Skip & Linda Adams
Roy was a great person that I`ve known since back in high school in 1990 you and your famil will always be in my heart.
My prayers are with you and your entire family. Roy was truly a pillar in the Rocky Grove community and will be greatly missed. While I never played sports or worked for him, he was still someone that I greatly repsected. May the peace and love of God be with all of you in this time.
Sorry about your loss, May God Bless