Philip J. Saunders, age 83, died Friday, November 13, 2009, at his home in Billerica after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband of Shirley A. (Fletcher) Saunders. He was born at Sunny Side Hospital in Somerville, December 9, 1925, the son of the late John and Mary (Brennan) Saunders. He attended Somerville Schools and enlisted into the Navy on his 17th birthday, serving in WWII (1943-1946). He was a Plank Owner of the USS Ingersoll. He married Shirley (Fletcher ) Saunders on February 1, 1947, at the Winterhill Congregational Church in Somerville. He worked for Hood Rubber in Watertown, St. Johnsbury Trucking, and ran Fletcher Brothers, Inc. for many years, hauling out of First National Stores. He finally retired from Carolina Freight in 1988. In the past few years he worked for Home In Stead in Chelmsford. He was a member of Teamsters Local #25 and the Tin Can Sailors. Besides his wife he is survived by his two sons and daughters in-law, Russell and Stephanie Saunders of Franklin and Philip and Diana Saunders of Billerica., his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Anthony Cerra of Tyngsboro; his special niece, Penne (Church) Shea of Chelmsford, his grandchildren, James Saunders of Broken Arrow, OK, Traci D�Antonio of Framingham, Amanda Cerra of Tyngsboro, Katherine Cerra of Tyngsboro, Nicole, Laura, and Jessica Saunders all of Billerica, his four great grandchildren, Patrick, Billy, and J.D Saunders of Broken Arrow, OK, and Kayla Marriott of Tyngsboro, and his cousins, Joyce Woods of Groton and Priscilla Crowley of Arlington.