Keith A. Sanford Sr.

FULTON – July 14, 2026, Keith A. Sanford Sr., 98, of Granby, passed away after a short illness at home, with comfort care by a competent companion, Madeline Shepard, and concerned, knowledgeable nurses from Oswego Health. God saw he was getting tired. No cure was not to be, so God took him by the hand and said, “Come with me.”

He was born July 16, 1927, in East Liverpool, Ohio, to the late Frank J. and Anna M. Daily Sanford.

In addition to his parents, Keith is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Rae Sanford, in 2000; daughter, Vickie Lynn Freyear; son, George Ira Sanford; brothers Frank, George, Blaine, Alvin, Arnold, and Mark Sanford; and sisters Dorothy A. Mooney, Arita Dunlevy, and Martha Wells of Barnesville, Ohio.

Surviving are daughter Jeanette Elaine Sanford of Tennessee; son Keith A. Sanford Jr. of Bella Vista, CA; sister Millie Merkow of Scottsdale, AZ; granddaughters Jennifer Rae Atlyse Sanford of TN; grandchildren Christian, Rachel, Haley Sanford of CA; and many more in California along with several great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are niece Diane Burga; nephews Wesley, Rodney, Donald, and Todd Wells of Barnesville, OH; Phillip Sanford of Huntington, WV; and several other nieces and nephews.

He joined the military and, after being discharged, was a manager and did auto body work in Ohio and California. He did auto work for many actors in California, after which he became an insurance appraiser for USAA until his retirement.

Keith retired in Florida and enjoyed many years there before settling in Granby Center, New York, with his companion, Madeline Shepard.

He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion in Hannibal, New York, and the USAA Quarter Club.

Keith was cremated and wished for no services. Foster Funeral Home has care of arrangements.