The Life of Dr. Alton W. Zander

Dr. Alton W. Zanders

Dr. Alton Wendell Zanders, the fourth oldest child of the late Larry Zander, Sr. and Lelia Varnado Zanders, was born in Roseland, Louisiana on September 3, 1943. He had four brother and three sister and was known as being exceptionally bright like a shiny new penny, hence his lifelong nickname.

He graduated from West Side High School in Amite and went on to pursue multiple degrees in higher education. In 1965 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Biology from Southern University: 1n 1970 he achieved a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University, emphasis in Science Education. As a National Science Foundation Fellow. In 1974 he received a Juris Doctorate from a College of Law, also from Syracuse University.

Education remained and integral part of Alton's life as he began his career teaching courses related to science in New Orleans public Schools and Syracuse University. Later his career continued to involve educational  instittutions as he led efforts in human resource management and diversity relations at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and Colorado public school system. 

In 1967 Alton married Gertrude Carral, also born and raised in Louisiana and a fellow schoolmate since elementary school. To that union town daughters were born, Geleah and Anissa. After leaving the south, their first home was in Syracuse, New York while Alton completed his education and began his career. Later, the family moved to Midwest for his career, residing in Columbia, Missouri and later, Shawnee, Kansas.

Alton was involved with the communities which he lived as an active church member and advisory member of shuck organization as the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis. His attributes of being well read and dynamic speaker were evident in the honors received as "Who's Who Among Black Americans" he was a member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist and also called Butler's A.M.E. Zion in Amite and Petty's A.M.E. Zion in New Orleans his church homes earlier in life.

In the leisure time he enjoyed fishing, reading and spending time with family. He was known as a spirited individual who sough perfection in everything he did. He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Roger Zanders, and in survived by two daughters: Geleah Zanders Wolf (Gene) and Anissa Zander King (Rick): two granddaughters, Alyssa and Lelia; a step grandson, Ricky: three sisters, Fochia Zanders Brown (Calvin). Dr. Barbara Zanders Dawson (Archie) and Lelia Zanders Strozier: brothers, Larry Zanders Jr., Attorney Willie Matthew Zanders, Sr. (Ann) and Timothey Titus Zanders (Doris): two nieces and ten nephews and many other relatives and friends. 

Reprint from the Funeral Program of Dr. Alton W. Zanders

Source: Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite