Thelma June Steele Saunders, 81, of Radford, passed away Nov. 9, 2025, at her home of more than 40 years. She was born September 6, 1944, in Wise County, Va., one of 13 children, to Bennie and Earlie Robinson Steele.
Due to injuries sustained when she was a small child, she relocated to Richmond, Va., for medical treatment. While in the hospital, she met Louise E. and Walter B. Jones, who provided her care and support and would become her loving guardians. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond and attended Radford College for two years before returning to Richmond to help care for Mr. Jones.
While at Radford College, she met the love of her life, Charles “Benny” Saunders, one winter day when he threw a snowball her way. They would be married and spend more than 59 beautiful years with each other. Together, they built a home and a life that included raising two sons, Charles Benny Saunders Jr. (“Benjie”) and Christopher Saunders. She enjoyed a long career at Radford University, where she loved meeting and serving students.
In her life, Thelma loved her home, flowers, birds and her basset hounds, Chester, Fred and Junie. In her retirement, she and Benny volunteered to help transport basset hounds to new homes. Her love for basset hounds was only rivaled by her adoration for her two grandchildren. She showered them with love and passed along her genuine curiosity of all things in this life to them.
Thelma never knew a stranger. To know her meant she embraced you, your family and your world wholly. Her extended family grew with every relationship she formed. That included her husband’s and sons’ friends, as well as her co-workers, neighbors and caregivers.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents Mrs. and Mr. Steele, her guardians Mrs. and Mr. Jones, and several beloved siblings. She is survived by husband, Benny; son Benjie and daughter-in-law Jenny, of Richmond, Va.; son Christopher and daughter-in-law Stacie, of Asheville, N.C.; grandchildren Lillie and Quentin; sisters, Sally Heinz and Dorcie Rasnick; and brothers, Wayne Steele and Mack Steele.
In the spirit of Thelma’s kind and generous nature, the family has requested in lieu of flowers to please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice serving children or animals.
The family received friends Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. A celebration of her life followed with Rev. Kent Taylor officiating.
The Saunders family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
