Vincent "Buddy" Gartrue Sanders, Jr.

Vincent “Buddy” Gartrue Sanders Jr., 60, of Concord, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Monday, September 28, 2026, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born September 17, 1966 in Cabarrus County, NC, to the late Vincent "Bud" Sanders and Sandra Bradham Sanders.

It’s impossible to fit an entire life-an entire person-into a few paragraphs, especially when that person meant so many different things to so many people.

Buddy was a devoted husband, a loving dad, a proud grandfather, a beloved son and brother, a loyal friend, a Harley fanatic, a Sons of Anarchy look-alike with a long-standing tradition of terrifying the men his daughters dated, the family hothead and resident argument instigator, and, maybe most importantly, always only a phone call away. He was stubborn and outspoken, fiercely protective, quick to argue and even quicker with a joke. He could make you laugh, make you mad, make you roll your eyes, and somehow make you feel completely safe-sometimes all in the same conversation.

Family was at the center of Buddy’s life. He became a father at 22 and, over the years, continued to collect children to love, teach hard lessons to, worry about, take pride in, protect, and love some more. By the end of his life, that collection had grown to five children-three daughters and two sons-and a granddaughter who adored him.

Buddy’s instinct to take care of people extended far beyond his role as a father. He stopped by his parents’ house multiple times a day just to make sure they had everything they needed. He took care of lawns and homes, fixed what was broken, gave advice-whether anyone had actually asked for it or not-and checked in often.

His children knew the familiar text: “Hey baby, I ain’t trying to bother you, just checking in on you,” usually accompanied by enough typos to require some interpretation. They also knew his frequent reminder: “Remember, you can call me no matter what time it is, and I’ll come get you.”

Everyone who loved him knew, without question, that he meant it. Whatever had happened, wherever you were, whatever time the phone rang-Buddy would come.

That devotion to family was part of what brought Buddy and his wife, Layla, together. She fell in love with the way he cared for the people around him and the fierce loyalty he showed his family. Together, Buddy and Layla built a life centered around their love for one another and the people they loved most.

There are a hundred little things his family and friends will miss: the sayings only Buddy could get away with; the stories that will be told and retold for years; the arguments that somehow became family memories; Pink Floyd playing nearby; the check-in calls and hilariously typo-riddled texts; the unsolicited advice; the random facts no one had asked for but everyone was about to learn anyway; and the countless ordinary ways he made himself part of the lives of the people he loved.

Buddy is survived by his wife and soulmate, Layla Sanders; his five children, Destiny Giordano and her husband, Cameron, Skyler Sanders and her partner, Samantha Pack, Tyler Bingham, Ssgt. Ian Bingham and his wife, Michelle, and Aubrey Sanders; his beloved granddaughter, Everly Pearl; his mother, Sandra Sanders; and his sister, Brandy Sanders.

Buddy leaves behind a family who will miss his presence, his voice, his stubbornness, his humor, and the absolute certainty that if you needed him, he would come.

It’s impossible to fit an entire person into a few paragraphs. Maybe that’s because a life isn’t measured by how completely it can be summarized. Maybe it’s measured by what remains in the people who were lucky enough to be part of it.

And Buddy left a lot behind.

We will miss him for the rest of our lives, but we are endlessly grateful that he was ours.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Sanders family.