Dr. Charles Sowell Sanford, III

"Sandy"

February 2, 1946  ~  January 12, 2024

Charles Sowell Sanford, III was born February 2, 1946, to Helen Manner Sanford and Charles S. Sanford, Jr. in Dallas, Texas. He died January 12, 2024 at the age of 77, due to complications from surgery. Although we mourn his passing, we rejoice that he is in the presence of Our Lord.  He is pre-deceased by his father. He left behind his  mother, his loving wife Diane Farwell Hatchett Sanford, son, Scott Edward Sanford and wife Tiffany, daughter Lindsay Sanford Salazar and husband Matt, grandson Everett Salazar, sisters Judy Rabjohn and husband Pat, Linda Delgado and husband Danny, and special nephews and nieces.

Sandy loved the Lord and he and Diane were active in church their entire lives. They especially treasured their time at CenterPoint Baptist Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where Sandy was a deacon. They most recently made Champion Forest Baptist Klein their church home.

Charles was affectionately known by friends and family as Sandy, Dad, Papa, Doc, and Honey. He spent most of his childhood in the Richland Hills area of Fort Worth, Texas, excelling in school and serving as president of his class at Richland High School. An avid sportsman, he enjoyed baseball, basketball, and football, playing on the Texas Tech football team his freshman year. After transferring to The University of Texas at Arlington, he graduated with honors in chemistry, where he met the love of his life, Diane. They married after Diane's graduation from Tech in July 1970.

Sandy attended The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry, graduating in 1973. He served two years in the United States Army as a Captain in the Dental Corps at Ft. Mead, Maryland from 1973 to 1975.  Afterwards, Sandy practiced dentistry in Fort Worth for several years. Sandy and Diane's son, Scott, was born in 1978. They returned to Houston where Sandy completed a Masters in Endodontics at The University of Texas Dental Branch. Their daughter, Lindsay, was born in 1982. He began his private practice of Endodontics in the north area of Houston and was soon joined by his good friend, Paul San Marco, D.D.S.  They practiced together until Sandy's retirement at age 60.

An avid outdoorsman, Sandy enjoyed years of golfing, fishing, and hunting with friends and family. His beautiful yard expressed his skill and attention to gardening. He trained and hunted with his sweet Labrador retrievers. Diane and Sandy were happy travelers, making memories around the world as well as the U.S.  For seventeen years, they spent part of each year at their beloved Colorado mountain home in Pagosa Springs where their children and extended family joined them often.

The family appreciates all the wonderful people who supported them during this time. The many relationships made through Sandy's professional career, his sporting activities, his personal friendships and his family made Sandy's life full and meaningful. He was a loving son, husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend. A life well-lived.

In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial Gifts may be made to

Samaritan's Purse

www.samaritanspurse.org