Joan L. Blythe Sanders

Joan L. Blythe Sanders passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

She was the daughter of the late Hubert J. Blythe and Ruth Ann Myers Blythe, and the granddaughter of the late Samuel and Pearl (McBarnes) Myers and the late James and Lilli Emma (Satterfield) Blythe.

Joan was born on March 10, 1937, in Akron, Ohio, where she was educated and resided until her marriage in 1958. She was married to the late Donald E. Sanders, her devoted husband of 55 years. She had resided in Maryland since 1961.

Joan retired from Hughes Network Systems in Germantown, Maryland, in 1997 and devoted much of her time to enjoying her family, volunteering in her community, and pursuing her love of knitting.

She is survived by her son, Mark (Joyce) Sanders; her daughters, Elizabeth (David) Bassett and Kathleen McDowell; her grandchildren, Zachary (Chrissy) Sanders, Courtney Sanders, Katie Robine, Daniel (Alex) Bassett, Jessica (Vince) Kolb, Austin McDowell, and Brennan McDowell; her great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Lydia Sanders; Lily, Sarah, and Ella Robine; William Bassett; and Delaney, Harlynn, and Thomas Kolb IV; and her sister-in-law, Sandy Blythe. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as cherished lifelong friends. Her family was the love of her life.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Hubert “Bud” Blythe, in 2005. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Joan was a member of The Ladies of the Elks, Hagerstown BPOE 358, and served as past president of LOTE in Bowie, Maryland. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Antietam Chapter, and St. Ann’s Catholic Church of Hagerstown, and most recently St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Libertytown, Maryland.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, March 6, 2026 at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 9190 Church Street in Libertytown, MD, with a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Entombment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery Mausoleum in Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Heart Association, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are with Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.