State, The (Columbia, SC) - Saturday, July 24, 2004
COLUMBIA - A memorial service for Sanders Richardson Guignard, Jr., will be held Sunday, July 25, at 5:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia. Mr. Guignard died Thursday, July 22, in Columbia after a brief illness.

He was the son of the late Reverend Sanders R. Guignard, Sr, and the late Emilie Bregy Hill Guignard. Mr. Guignard was born in Anderson, South Carolina, November 27, 1911, and lived most of his life in and around Columbia. He was educated at the University of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1932 and a Master's degree in Mathematics in 1934. Early in his career he worked for the City of Columbia Engineering Department and for Guignard Brick Works.

During World War II he was a radar engineer with Raytheon Electric Company for the U.S. Navy, serving in Norfolk, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina, and Boston, Massachusetts. After having been in business in Columbia, he retired in 1976. He was an Amateur Radio Operator for almost 70 years.

Mr. Guignard was a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, where he was a lay reader, member of the choir, and vestryman. For more than 24 years he was a regular summer worshipper at the Church of the Resurrection in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, where he served as a member of the Bishop's Committee. He had been active in the Boy Scouts of America in Columbia, having served as Pack, Troop, and District Chairman. As a young man, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, as did his three sons. Mr. Guignard was instrumental in starting the Alzheimer's Wanderer's Identification Program (VSPID) in South Carolina. He had also served as a member of the Mid-State Alzheimer's Chapter.

One of his principal interests was the South Carolina Episcopal Home at Still Hopes. A longtime board member, he had served as secretary.

He is survived by his widow, the former Blanding Smith of Abbeville, South Carolina; one daughter, Emilie Bregy Guignard; three sons, James Sanders Guignard and his wife Barbara, Allen Smith Guignard, and John Bruce Guignard and his wife Claudia; five grandchildren, Sanders Dickinson Guignard, John Gabriel Guignard, James Perrin Guignard, Emilie Mallard Gray (Chris) of Charlotte, and Caroline Mallard Rohs (Carl) of Raleigh; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. His sister, Clara Guignard Faris, died in 1993, and his sister, Jane Guignard Thompson Curry, died in 2002.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the South Carolina Episcopal Home at Still Hopes, the Church of the Resurrection (Little Switzerland, North Carolina 28749), or Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

The family will receive friends at 1721 West Buchanan Drive from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Saturday, and on Sunday after the service.

COMMUNITY LEADER, EAGLE SCOUT DIES AT 92
State, The (Columbia, SC) . Saturday, July 24, 20044
PUBLISHED JULY 25, 2004: Sanders Guignard Jr. was a Columbia resident. A story in Saturday's Metro section was incorrect.Years ago, Sanders Guignard Jr. took the oath of the Boy Scout.

In that oath, among other things, he vowed to "do my duty to God and my country," to "help other people at all times" and to "keep myself . . . morally straight."

Two of his three sons, Jim and Bruce Guignard, said he upheld those standards throughout his life.

Guignard, 92, of West Columbia died Thursday after a brief illness.

Guignard, who was active in the Boys Scouts of America, started a family tradition the day he took that oath.

His three sons and two of his three grandsons are Eagle Scouts. Bruce Guignard said as soon as the youngest Guignard boy is old enough, he too will take the oath.

"Daddy just liked the standards of the Scout community," he said.

His leadership and example, his sons said, filtered down to his four children.

"He was a gentle man," Bruce Guignard said. "If I'm a good father it's because I had a good father."

Their father, Jim Guignard said, acted as patriarch not only in his family but through his community service.

He was instrumental in starting the Alzheimer's Wanderer's Identification Program, also called VSPID (Very Special Persons Identification) in South Carolina. The program works with the State Law Enforcement Division to protect those with the illness.

"He saw a need there," Bruce Guignard said. "That was typical of Daddy."

His father, he said, realized that there had to be a better way to keep people with Alzheimer's out of harm's way.

Guignard's love for his family, appreciation for community service and respect for the mission of the Boy Scouts made him an inspiration to those around him, said Gene Dickson, whose parents were friends with Guignard.

Dickson said he spent a lot of time around the reserved man.

"Sanders seemed to be a Renaissance man without the chauvinistic style."

Dickson called him a wonderful family man who, amid a generation known for their involvement in World War II, seemed to stand a little taller than the rest.

"In my eyes he had an interest and an understanding that went above what I was used to seeing in adults."

He is survived by his wife, Blanding Smith Guignard; daughter, Emilie Bregy Guignard; sons, James Guignard, Allen Guignard and John Bruce Guignard; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 5 p.m.

State, The (Columbia, SC) - Saturday, July 24, 2004