KILMARNOCK—Audrey Hutchison “Audie” Saunders passed away peacefully at her home on Indian Creek on January 27, 2024.
She was born on October 17, 1929, exactly one week before the start of the Great Depression; she was the youngest of four children. She lived her entire childhood in the small town of Herndon and attended its public school where her father, an attorney, was the first principal. Throughout her lifetime she vividly recalled living through the depression years and World War II and she would often amaze us with stories of the sacrifices that she and others had to make. Undoubtedly, her greatest sacrifice was the loss of her brother who was a paratrooper in the war and died in combat on D-Day.
After graduating from high school she attended William & Mary College. In her first year she met her future husband, Richard Saunders, who had recently returned from his Army combat in the Philippines. After leaving college they were married in 1950, moved back to Herndon and started a family.
Audie enjoyed her family and her many friends in Herndon. She played golf, tennis, ping pong, bridge and she loved the beach. Her husband was employed by the Air Transportation Association, which afforded them the opportunity to travel extensively. As her children entered school Audie began working part-time as the secretary to the minister at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Herndon, where the family attended. Years later she was elected to the Herndon Town Council. During her term in office she was instrumental in the development of the Herndon Municipal Golf Course, which has been a tremendous asset for the town.
When their oldest child enrolled in Christchurch School in 1965 they bought a small house on Indian Creek in Kilmarnock to serve as a second home. They joined the Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club (ICYCC) in 1966, where she remained a member until shortly before her death. In 1988, after her husband had retired, they sold their Herndon home, remodeled their home on Indian Creek and moved to Kilmarnock. For many years they spent winters in Florida, but ultimately decided that they preferred to stay year round in the Northern Neck.
For the past almost 60 years, and especially since the late 1980s, Audie was extremely active at ICYCC. She served on the club’s board of directors and was a member of the board when the golf course was redesigned in 2007. She was a member of the Women’s Golf Association and competed in numerous tournaments, finishing either first or second in multiple club championships. She was an avid bridge player and played in weekly games at the club with many of her closest friends. It should also be mentioned that she was skilled at needlepoint and, among many other projects, she made Christmas stockings for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Audie was known by all to be a wonderful cook and a welcoming hostess. She and her husband hosted numerous dinner parties at their home and several large parties at the club, including a black tie event to celebrate Audie’s 90th birthday in 2019. She and her husband enjoyed sailing and fishing and their home was always a gathering place for family and friends. Although born and raised in Northern Virginia, she loved the Northern Neck and the dozens of wonderful friends she made here.
Audie was blessed with a long and happy life. She was predeceased by her husband of almost 65 years.
She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Rick and Dianne Saunders, Kirk and Dan Gillespie and Paul and Vicki Saunders; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Brock and Alexandra Saunders, Nick and Natalie Beauregard, Tyler and Verity Saunders, Paul and Taylor Saunders, Rachel and Dean Berner, Jesse and Vinaya Saunders and Daniel Saunders, all of whom adored and respected her; and 16 great-grandchildren ranging in age from one month to 19 years. She will be greatly missed by them all.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her honor to the Northern Neck Partners for Pets. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. February 17 at Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock.
