Irwin Taylor Sanders II

Irwin Taylor Sanders, II departed this life on August 17, 2024, in Danville, Kentucky. He
was 81 years old.
A 1965 graduate of Centre College, Sanders earned his MA and PhD in history from the
University of Virginia. He joined the faculty of Washington and Lee University in
Lexington, VA in 1969, served as University Historian and taught a wide range of
courses in ancient, medieval, British, and American history. Sanders taught at
Washington and Lee for more than forty years. He also wrote numerous papers and
articles, six monographs, and two books, and contributed to a half-dozen others.
Sanders was the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati’s Distinguished George Washington
Scholar, was a National Council Fellow at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and
served on the citizen’s advisory committee of the Virginia legislative commission for the
commemoration of the War of 1812. He was a past member and chairman of the
Lexington (VA) Planning Commission and its Board of Zoning Appeals. He was a
veteran steward for eventing competitions at the Virginia Horse Center. An Elder at
Lexington Presbyterian Church, he served on Presbytery committees, including the
Shenandoah Presbytery’s history committee. He was a member of the Jamestown
Society, the General Society of the War of 1812, and the Society of the Cincinnati in the
State of Maryland.
Upon his retirement, he and his wife, Barbara Wilson Sanders, moved to Danville, KY.
Sanders was preceded in death by his wife. Survivors include a sister, Jessica Sanders
Jones (Addison) of Richmond, VA; son Wallace Bruce Sanders (Catherine) of
Bentonville, AR, son Stuart Wilson Sanders (Jenny) of Danville, KY; and five
grandchildren.
Burial will be at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, KY. In lieu of flowers, donations may
be sent to Heritage Hospice of Danville, KY (heritagehospice.com).