Paula Sanders

Paula Marie Sanders, 77, passed away November 2, 2025 in Sherman, Texas. Paula was born December 10, 1947 in Los Angeles, California to Jackson Virgil Fadely and Patricia Marie McGovern. Paula attended school in Southern California, with her sister Christine L. Fadely and was married to Donald Kenneth Foltz in 1967. Lisa Marie Foltz-Patti was born January 1968 and Brian Kenneth Foltz, born February 1972. Paula held various roles in the mortgage industry throughout her career including Processor, Underwriter, Compliance Officer and retiring after serving as an Assistant Vice President for CU Members Mortgage in Addison, Texas. She remarried Gary LeRoy Sanders November 7, 1989 in Dallas, Texas and celebrated 35 years of marriage. After raising children, Paula and Gary moved to South Texas / Fredericksburg and Wimberley, returning to North Texas / Sherman in the fall of 2024.

She is survived by her loving husband, Gary L. Sanders; Sister Christine L. Tonubbee, children Lisa M. Patti and husband Steve, Brian K. Foltz and his wife Brandi, Jacqueline Marie Sanders and partner Ishan Chatterjee, and Catherine Theresa Gabel and husband Drew; grandchildren Nicholas Patti (26) and his wife Shelby, Samuel Patti (23), Brian A. Foltz (23), Alec K. Foltz (22), Aaron D. Foltz (18), Madilyn K. Foltz (14), Emily M. Foltz (14), Juniper Elaina Gabel (6) and Maple Francis Gabel (4); great-grandchildren Enzo Patti (3 1/2) and Luca Patti (14 months); nephew Jevin S. Womack and niece Sarah A. Ott.

Paula loved antiquing, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family.

She had no greater love than for Jesus Christ, her nine (9) grandchildren and two (2) great-grandchildren. She was a shining example of a humble heart with a kind, servant spirit, who loved serving in the children’s ministry in Boerne, Texas.

A Woman Who Needs No Eulogy

Proverbs 31:30

When Isabel Coleman, longtime missionary to China died, her memorial service was conducted by several of the people she had won to Christ.  A Chinese man read a brief history of Miss Coleman’s life in Chinese.  When he concluded, he said in English, “For those who did not know Miss Coleman, no words are adequate to describe her life.  For those who knew her, no words were necessary. 

I feel that same way today.  We are here to commemorate the life of a woman who needs no eulogy.  When a person has lived such a godly life, there is nothing we can add to it.  Her eulogy comes naturally and spontaneously from what she was and what she did. 

The Bible teaches us this in its picture of the ideal woman in Proverbs 31:10-31.  She is described as trustworthy, industrious, compassionate, and wise.  Then is says,

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praise.  (Prov. 31:30)

This is the most important thing about her.  She gives priority to the eternal and spiritual values of life.  She fears God; that is, she has a deep reverence for and awe of God.  She values Him above both charm and beauty.  She knows that charm can be deceptive.  It can cover up the real person.  We are all such marvelous actors and actresses that we can fool people by our actions. 

And she knows that beauty is fleeting.  It is like the air we breathe.  It quickly fades away.  But God is eternal.  A man said of Bess Truman, wife of former President Harry S. Truman, “Her values were deeper than cosmetics.”  That should be said of every Christian woman.  The woman who reverences and worships Him shall be praised.  Her praise, her eulogy, will come from the family she loved, the word she did, and the God she served. 

1. Eulogized by Her Family.

First, a godly woman is eulogized by her family.  The writer of Proverbs says, “Her son rise up and call her blessed.  Her husband also praises her” (v. 28).  A woman can have no greater eulogy than that of a loving family.

There is no greater argument for the Christian faith that that of a godly life.  Someone has said, “One good mother is worth a hundred school teachers and an ounce of a mother is worth a pound of parson.”  The praise of a loving family is one of the greatest of all eulogies.

2.  Eulogized by Her Works. 

Second, a godly woman is eulogized by the works she did.  Again the writer of Proverbs says, “Giver her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates” (Prov. 31:31).

The city gates in the OT were equivalent to our city hall.  It was the place where people met and transacted business.  There a person was known for what he really was.  Our works always reveal our true character.  Our faith should show itself in the courthouse as well as the church house. 

   In one of his essays, Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

See how the mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves, while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets himself into immortality. 

         The scripture say of Jesus, “He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).  So should we.

A life of unselfish service is a eulogy in itself.  Dorcas’s life was an example of this kind of service.  She was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of the early New Testament church.  Her life was characterized by good works and deeds of mercy.  When she died, her friends came to prepare her body for burial.  Then someone remembered that the apostle Peter was nearby and sent for him with the hopes that he might be able to raise her from the dead. 

When Peter arrived he found many widows standing around the body of Dorcas, weeping and holding coats and garments that she had made for them while she was alive.  What she had one spoke of what she was.  Her works eulogized her.

         Her life was a beautiful example to all of us.  It suggests that we all ought to be something—a disciple; do something—good works; and leave something—the memory loving service.  When we have lived a life of service, our good works are the only eulogy we need.

3.  Eulogized by Her God.

Third, a godly woman is eulogized by the Lord.  That’s was we have here in Proverbs 31.  The eternal God who made the heavens and the earth pauses in this Scripture to praise this woman. 

Every true follower of Christ can anticipate God’s commendation.  When we have loved God devotedly and followed Him faithfully, we can expect one day to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).

The Lord always knows who and what we are.  The Scriptures say, “For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.  (2 Chronicles 16:9)

The Lord knew that Enoch walked with Him and did not hesitate to say that Enoch pleased Him (Heb. 11:5).  The Lord knew that Abraham believed Him and did not hesitate to say that Abraham was His friend (James 2:23).  The Lord knew that David loved Him and did not hesitate to say that David was a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

The Lord knows us, too.  And He will gladly attest to our character in eternity.  So, a godly woman really needs no eulogy.  It speaks for itself.  We cannot add to it nor take away from it.

Like the life of Paula Sanders, for those who did not know her, no words are adequate to describe her life.  For those who did know her, no words are necessary.