James P. Saunders

YORK BEACH - James Perkins Saunders, 94, of 69 Long Beach Ave., died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at Harbor Home, York Harbor.

Born Aug. 4, 1905, in York Beach, he was the son of Arthur L. and Florence (Perkins) Saunders. A graduate of Salem (Mass.) High School, he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1930, and master's degree in education from Boston University in 1932.

For 37 years, he was an educator at Northbridge High School in Whitinsville, Mass. He was a biology teacher and served as vice principal and principal of the school.

He had resided in Whitinsville, summering every year in York Beach from 1905 until moving there several years ago to live with his daughter.

Since 1920, he was a ham radio operator. His call letters were "W1BDV," and he was the first York resident to hear a radio broadcast. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League.

For 31 years, he delivered summer mail at York Beach.

He was the husband of the late Geraldine (Wilson) Saunders. She died in 1981.

Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. David (Jane) Wilson of York Beach; a son, Kenneth Wilson Saunders of Whitinsville, Mass.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 52 Federal St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

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