David Allen Saunders, 74, of Herndon, Virginia, passed away on Friday, September 1, 2017 peacefully in his sleep.

Dave was born in Washington, DC on February 8, 1943. He graduated from Annandale High School, Class of 1961. He served in the US Air Force from 1963 – 1967 serving in Libya and England. He studied computer science after his air force service and worked as an IBM machine language (assembler) programmer for 40 years.

Dave was a serious gamer, long, long before it was cool. As a young man he played strategy games where armies of cardboard squares covered tables in the rec room as he refought the American Civil War and World War Two. He loved chess and was good enough to be an Air Force Chess champion in 1964. Poker was his card game and he loved anything with ‘odds’ so yes, horse racing became another favorite. When the paint ball phenomenon hit in the ‘80’s, Dave was one of the first to ‘play army’ with his buddies. And being an early computer geek he came to love and enjoy what we now call computer games.

Dave enjoyed his games, but he loved and adored his family. His pride and joy were his daughters, Barb and Kathy and of course his grandchildren, Kayla, Josh and Kevin. He loved going to family reunions to visit with his Saunders and Harwell cousins.

Dave is survived by his daughters, Barbara Clamage (Eric) of Landstuhl, Germany, and Kathy Noble of Sterling, VA and his three grandchildren, Kayla Kendgia (Austin), Joshua Clamage and Kevin A. Noble. He is also survived by his siblings, William A. (Bill) Saunders, Jr. of Herndon, VA, James Richard (Dick) Saunders (Mary Ellen) of Hockessin Delaware; Robert A. (Bob) Saunders (Donna) of Herndon, VA and Mary M. Saunders of Richmond, VA; his beloved nephews, Steven M. Saunders (Brandi); Scott Saunders (Faren); Sean Saunders (Brittni) and Shannon Saunders (Carina) and all their wonderful kids; and numerous cousins.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents William A. (Bill) Saunders and Mabel H. Saunders of Annandale, VA and the mother of his children, Barbara Ann Hargrave.

The family will be welcoming friends and family on Sunday, September 17, 2017 at the visitation at 1:00 pm with the Memorial Service to follow at 2:00 pm at Everly Community Funeral Care, 6161 Leesburg pike Falls Church, VA 22044 703-532-5161. A reception to celebrate David’s life will be held following the Memorial Service.

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