Ronald Alan Sanford

Ronald Alan Sanford, 87, passed away on July 20, 2026. Born and raised in Gridley, California, Ron was the middle son of Keith and Aileen Sanford and brother to Roger and Tom. He attended UC Berkeley, where he met the love of his life, Nancy “Wallace” Sanford. They shared 65 wonderful years of marriage.

Ron proudly served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Alaska during the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. After his military service, he and Nancy returned to Gridley, were they built Gridley Growers into a successful Honda dealership. Later, Ron turned his lifelong passion for photography into an internationally recognized career. Together, he and Nancy traveled the world, with Ron’s award-winning nature and travel photography appearing in more than 40 magazines and over 50 books. He also enjoyed teaching photography and speaking to groups, inspiring others to appreciate the natural world.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy; sons Mike (Diana) and Dan (Dalisa); grandchildren Kelsie (Aaron), Jill (Greg), Jason, Devon (Caden), and Hank; seven treasured great-grandchildren – Maddox, Stella, Gianna, Titus, Nixon, Jackson and Addison—and Cedar, the family dog.

Above all, Ron loved his family, his adventures with Nancy, and a life well lived. He often said, “we loved every minute of our life,” and those who knew him, know he truly did.