Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Patricia Sanborn

 Patricia Tucker Sanborn
November 8. 1952 – October 10, 2014

Global Ministries is saddened to share news of the loss of beloved colleague and friend, Patricia Sanborn.  Pat worked in the Africa Office for many years.  Below, at Pat’s request, we share her obituary written by her and published in the Indianapolis Star October 12, 2014.  Condolences may be sent to Robert C. Sanborn Jr. at robert@thesanborns.com or 402 East 43rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205.

Patricia Tucker Sanborn was 61 when she died on October 10, 2014. She was born in Hanover New Hampshire in 1952 and was a graduate of Mascoma Valley Regional High School in Canaan, NH. She graduated from Adelphi University (Garden City, NY) with a degree in French Language in 1974. There she was a member of the French Honor Society and on the Dean’s List.

Upon graduation, Pat moved to Indianapolis, IN and went to work with the Africa Office of the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she spent 39 years. This ministry was near and dear to her heart helping with the work of the people in Africa. The staff of DOM are a family that meant so much to her and the Africa Partners and projects there were loved by Pat.

Besides work, Pat loved to spend the time outdoors whether going for walks or spending it sitting in the sun. She spent many summers wandering the state parks of Indiana on weekend camping trips and in recent years devoted her energies to her family from her trip to China in 2006 to adopt her daughter. That was a whole new world of adventures for her. Her summers were also spent traveling to New England to visit all of her family and friends there as well as she managed to stretch her summer trip there so she could not only enjoy longer and longer visits but to make lots of stops coming and going including her latest to Niagara Falls. Pat really enjoyed the beauty of the National Parks of the USA. Another joy Pat had was to sing in the choir of Broad Ripple United Methodist Church. There she found another family to love and cherish and even though the choir ended a few years ago, Pat still loved the activities and people there as it seemed that there was always something going on at Church.

Survivors include her husband and traveling companion of 38 years, Robert C. Sanborn Jr. and their daughter, Anna who has also become quite the traveler. Pat and Robert have traveled from Africa to Europe to Central America to China and the Pacific and Russia. She is also survived by her mother, Ruth Callanan Tucker of Canaan, NH; her sister, Martha Menton of Billerica, MA whom she loved to visit as an excuse to go to a Red Sox game; her two nephews, Keith and Curtis Menton and many cousins. She is also survived by Robert’s parents, Robert and Nancy Sanborn of Inman, SC and his sisters, Kimberly and Paige. Her father, Harry Tucker, of Canaan, NH passed away in 1994.

Please make memorial gifts to the Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206 and to Broad Ripple United Methodist Church, 6185 N. Guilford Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220. The funeral will be held at Broad Ripple United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 11 a.m., with calling one hour prior. Arrangements handled by Flanner and Buchannan – Broad Ripple.