Mrs. Ernestine Eaton Saunders, born in Tupelo, Mississippi on July 8, 1934, to Mattie B and William Steen Eaton, passed away at home at age 91 surrounded by family on January 6, 2026. She was known to her friends as Ernie and to her nieces and nephews as “Aunt Teenie”. She married her high school sweetheart, Ret. CDR Richard Edward Saunders, on October 6, 1956, in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1969 they settled on the Monterey Peninsula, after a nomadic navy adventure. She managed her duties as a Navy officer's wife with grace and raised three children lovingly. A fine athlete, she bowled a perfect game at the NPS bowling alley. But her first love was tennis; known at CVAC as the “queen of the court”. She played until her mid-eighties. She loved watching her San Francisco Giants, Forty-Niners and Warriors. When the games were on, she was not shy to give her coaching advice!

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, two younger sisters and daughter in law Lynne Saunders.

Ernie leaves behind her husband of over 69 years and three children: Michael Saunders, Michelle Rudolph, and Sandra Wickline (Anthony). She also leaves five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Tyler, William, Matthew, Spencer, Madeline, Anderson, and Jazmine. She is loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her.