He was a regular at many local places around especially his number one favorite hangout, the local Starbucks on 1st Ave North, as well as a consistent attendee of The Saturday Morning Market every weekend.

Rabon was always so encouraging: full of kind, wise, comforting, uplifting words, amazing life advice, jokes and interesting, funny, unique stories from his childhood and youth. 

He was always ready and eager to listen whenever you needed a compassionate ear. 

The way he talked always calmed you down.

He really knew how to care. 

His 45 years as a follower of Baha'i Faith really did a job on him.

You would never guess he had a series of life challenges growing up as result of polio. 

He never showed it and never talked about it unless you asked why he was in a wheelchair. 

No doubt there.

Why do such unfortunate things happen to such nice people like him? 

It's just not right.

Whenever you saw him for the first time in a day whether he already knew you or not, his face always just automatically lit up instantly. 

He was very lonely due to sadly being isolated from his family for many, many years and so he always needed all the friends he could possibly get.

At least he had Gracie but he always felt a lot better being out and about seeing people. 

It really made a big difference.

Their shared presence became an integral part of the local landscape, offering a gentle reminder of loyalty and love and their absence is profoundly felt by friends and neighbors who came to know them as part of their daily routines.

 Whether you live in downtown St. Pete or were just visiting for the first time, chances are you met Rabon and Gracie at least once. 

They were always everywhere around town every day just about, indeed hard to miss and Rabon talked to everybody. 

They were literally everywhere and everybody knew them.

They were two legends and downtown St. Pete no longer is and will no longer ever be the same without them.

 He was preceeded in death by his parents, his son Josh Sanders and his sister Dianne Sanders.

I'm not sure about an actual public celebration of life.

 If there was one I didn't get invited.

His ashes were scattered in The Gulf of Mexico.

Cremation services provided by: 

A Life Tribute Funeral Care-Gulfport

5601 Gulfport Blvd. S.

Gulfport, FL

33707

(727) - 347 - 5521

(now permanently closed)

Please send flowers to:

First Presbyterian Church St. Petersburg

701 Beach Drive NE

St. Petersburg, FL 

33701

(727) - 822 - 2031

Obituary written by Michelle RM (Rabon's local best friend and site administrator)