Laurance R Sandstrom

Mr. Laurance Rudyerd "Papa"  Sandstrom, 73, of Bostic, NC, died Tuesday, 
April 2, 2019 at Willow Ridge Nursing Center, Rutherfordton.
He was the son of the late Carl Adolph Sandstrom and Bertha Smith 
Sandstrom. Larry Sandstrom grew up in Jamestown, NY where he graduated 
from Jamestown High School. He attended the Rochester Institute of 
Technology, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After 
working for IBM, he went into education. He was a teacher and head of 
the math department, during this time he served 6 years in the National 
Guard. He furthered his education by earning an MBA with a 
specialization in human resources, from Syracuse University. He moved to 
Florida to manage an electronics firm and later worked in human 
resources at Gulf Coast Community College. He spent the last 15 years of 
his career at Dayton State College where he was an Associate Vice 
President of Human Resources.
Larry was a loving husband to Maggie, his wife of more than 50 years. He 
was a devoted father to his daughters, Kimberly and Melissa, and an 
extraordinary Papa to his four grandchildren. He was a man of strong 
faith, serving as a deacon in his church and taught Sunday School for 
many years. He was a lover of woodworking, old cars, yard sales, 
antiques, camping, and good food. Throughout his lifetime, he rescued 
many dogs who became his constant companions. His final joy was spending 
his retirement years in the cabin in North Carolina that he lovingly 
helped build.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Louise Sandstrom; his daughters, 
Kimberly Louise Alacan and husband Eddie, of DeBary, FL, and Melissa 
Louise Reed and husband Jay, of Starkville, MS; his 2 sisters, Judith 
Lester and husband James, of Port Charlotte, FL, and Janice Roberg and 
husband Dennis, of Lakewood, NY; his 2 brothers, Carl Sandstrom and wife 
Sally, of Jamestown, NY, and Steven Sandstrom and wife Penny, of 
Ventura, CA; there are 4 grandchildren, Olivia Louise Morgan and husband 
Marcus, Jacob Franklin Reed, Lauren Louise Reed, and Emma Louise Alacan.
The Funeral will be conducted at 2:00 pm Sunday, April 7, 2019 at First 
Baptist Church of Bostic. The Rev. Clay Earle will officiate. Burial 
will follow at a later date at the Richland Cemetery in Richland, NY.
The Visitation will be from 3 pm until 5 pm Saturday at Washburn & 
Dorsey Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 501 
Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.
 

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