“Sandy” Warren Stewart Sandbach, 93, of Gloucester, passed away on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
He previously resided in Eatontown, N.J. for 71 years.
Warren, known fondly as “Sandy,” was born on May 30, 1929, in Los Angeles, Calif. to Norman and Violet Sandbach. He graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in California. He attended California State Polytechnic College before joining the Army in 1950. Sandy was assigned to the Signal School at Fort Monmouth, N.J., where he was selected to be an instructor. While at Fort Monmouth, Sandy met “his bride,” Margaret Wagner; they were married on March 30, 1952. After a honeymoon trip to California to meet his family, Sandy boarded a ship to Korea and Margaret returned to New Jersey. After serving in Korea, Sandy was discharged in 1953 and Eatontown was their home for 70 years.
Sandy was employed by Bendix Corporation as an electronic technician and troubleshooter. He left for one year to serve as a police officer in Eatontown, but returned to work at Bendix. In 1968, Sandy became a “model maker” for the Training Aids Division of the Signal School at Fort Monmouth. Sandy also worked at Camp Evans. He was loaned out to the Army Marine Craft Technical Support Activity and traveled to ports around the country installing new navigation and communications equipment. He retired from the U.S. Research Laboratory Electronics and Power Sources at Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Sandy loved his family dearly. He was predeceased by his parents and sisters, Grace, Beverly and Patricia.
He is survived by Margaret, his wife of almost 71 years; and his two children, Janet Sandbach Davidson and her husband, Dave, Ardmore, Okla. and Norman Sandbach and his wife, Beth, Saluda. Sandy was affectionately known as Pop-Pop to his grandchildren, Eric, Megan, Craig, Christine and Paul; as well as his great-grandchildren, Eli, Asa, Sullivan, Cade, Oscar, Frances and Crosby. He was extremely proud of each of them and would brag about them to anyone who would listen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Sandy loved people and making others smile. He was very creative and enjoyed making things. When they first moved into their house in 1957, Sandy constructed the first in-ground pool in Eatontown with the help of family and neighbors. Many children learned to swim in that pool. He was known for his hospitality and backyard cook-outs. He loved to see everyone having a good time. Sandy and Margaret loved to travel. In later years, Sandy enjoyed feeding the birds and deer. Until last year, he also enjoyed beating everyone at Scrabble.
Being active in the community and giving back was important to Sandy. He served on the Vestry and was a lay reader at Saint James Episcopal Church in Eatontown. He was a member of the Eatontown Volunteer Fire Department, First Aid Squad and Elks Lodge. He was a past master and instructor of Washington Masonic Lodge #9 (now Navesink #9). Sandy was a past patron of Eatontown Chapter #266 OES (now Molly Pitcher Chapter #198). He served as New Jersey’s Grand Patron of Eastern Star and made lifelong friends around the state. He also served for many years on the Adult Grand Executive Committee of Rainbow Girls and enjoyed hearing from the girls when he was no longer able to attend.
The family thanks the Eatontown Police Department for always coming to Sandy’s aid when he fell at home. They also thank the staff at Sander’s Skilled Nursing in Gloucester, for the excellent care they have given Sandy for the last nine months. A special thanks goes to Melissa Anderson, his aide and companion prior to his relocation to Virginia.
The family is planning a memorial in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ware Episcopal Church, Gloucester, https://warechurch.org/ or the Eastern Star Home, Bridgewater, N.J.
