02/18/2026
Sandra Jean Vandegrift
September 4, 1943 to February 16, 2026
Sandy was an avid reader. In her later years, she made a habit of reading the daily obituaries - calling friends and family to share who had passed, often following it with, “Well… I wasn’t in the obituaries today.”
She had an unmatched sense of humor, a zest for life, a spunky attitude, and a family who absolutely adored her.
She finally made her debut in the obituaries - and while the moment felt like it came too soon, we are grateful to celebrate a life and legacy that will be remembered for generations.
Sandra Jean Rue was born in Robertsville, Ohio to Dick and Pauline Rue. She grew up on a farm alongside her sister, Vicki, forming the roots of a life grounded in simplicity, family, and love. At Minerva High School, she was a majorette in the marching band - twirling her baton with pride, a talent she would continue to show off to her grandchildren decades later. As Homecoming Queen, her warmth, friendliness, and magnetic energy were evident early on. While her classmates loved her first, her family loved her most.
In her high school years, Sandy met Gail Vandegrift, a Minerva track star, and the rest was history. They were married on September 1, 1962, beginning a 60-year partnership built on love, resilience, and shared ambition. Together, they raised two daughters, Bonnie and Shari, and built a family that would grow into something truly extraordinary - five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a legacy of love that continues to expand.
Sandy was a co-founder of Minerva’s first sporting goods shop, known as The Lion’s Den, and later helped build the beloved Vandy’s Steak & Hoagies restaurant in Sarasota, Florida. Long before it was trendy, they were even running a food truck at local carnivals - true entrepreneurs with vision, grit, and creativity. Sandy and Gail didn’t just build businesses - they built a way of life rooted in hard work, community, and connection, setting an example that continues to inspire their family and those around them.
But more than anything, Sandy was the center of her community. She hosted fall festivals with over 100 friends and family, organized high school reunions, and kept lifelong friendships alive through weekly lunches with “the girls” - right up until her final weeks. She had a rare gift: the ability to make everyone feel welcome, seen, and cared for.
She was warm, inviting, and endlessly friendly - able to strike up a conversation with anyone, not out of obligation, but out of genuine curiosity and joy. She was witty, funny, and full of life. She loved a great meal - sushi, a rare filet, lobster - despite proudly being a “tightwad” and lifelong Goodwill enthusiast. She never sweated the small stuff, rarely
seemed rattled, and carried herself with a quiet steadiness that grounded everyone around her.
To her grandchildren, she was more than a grandma, granny and gigi - she was a second mom. She got down on the floor to play, even just weeks ago. She wrote handwritten notes, shared recipes, gardened, played games, and created moments that will never be forgotten. There was never a sporting event or activity that she didn’t attend and cheer on as our biggest fan. From her signature laugh to her cheeky jokes, and regular visits with family which became cherished traditions, she made life feel full.
From Ohio, to over 20 years in Florida, to a family that now spans from California to London, Sandy’s impact reaches far beyond any one place. The love she created continues to ripple outward through generations and across borders.
Sandy is survived by her two daughters, Bonnie (Bill) Eyer and Shari (Lewie) Kuhn; five grandchildren, Lauren (Matt) Wackerly; Alex Whiteleather (Alex Nicolaou), Kaitlyn (Derrick) Ream, Andre (Gabi) Whiteleather and Billy (Breanne) Eyer; seven great grandchildren, Ripp, Finn, Vivi Rue and Vann Wackerly, Rowan and River Ream and Elianne Rue Eyer. Sandy is also survived by her sister, Vicki Welch. She is proceeded in death by her husband Gail Vandegrift, in 2022.
Sandy, those who knew you will never forget you - your smile, your unforgettable laugh, your incredible cooking, and the way you made us all feel.
We love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!
We will see you on the other side
