James Junior Sample

| January 3, 2014

James Junior Sample – 91, passed away January 2, 2014 at his home in Porter Twp with his family beside him. Born September 19, 1922, on the old Sample homestead located along the Olean Trail in Porter Township, New Bethlehem, Pa. He was the son of James Marion Sample and Margaret Ruby Bowersox Sample.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife Martha Irene Emhoff Sample, a baby son Donnie Lee, a grandson Frederick William Loncharich, Jr and great granddaughter Scarlett Rayne Sample.
Surviving relatives included one sister Bernice Theone Sample York of Tampa, FL, two sons- James Vernon Sample and wife Mary of Sewickley, PA, and Gary DeWayne Sample and wife Dorothy of Cochranton, PA, two daughters- Jean Sample Gilmore of Ligonier, PA, and Jane Sample Pappler of Southampton, NJ, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.

Mr Sample attended the Jack’s School in Leatherwood. Besides being a full time Dairy Farmer and milking cows daily, Jimmy had numerous other jobs that he worked at over the years to help support his family. His first job was working for local farmers for 50 cents a day. Then he knapped stone for the Pa. Highway Department when they built the Starburg Road that ran from Reidsburg to the New Bethlehem Borough Line. Next was the Erie Continental Rubber Works, driving truck a coal for Isemen Coal Co and many years working for the White Fire Equipment Company of Cottage Hill. Next was working for the Porter Township Supervisor, then the PA Department of Highways in Clarion for 10 years. He was then hired as a security guard at the Clarion Hospital Supply Company followed by being a dispatcher for the 911 Emergency Center of Clarion County at its inception. He was hired as Superintendent of the Water and Sewage Plant for Rimersburg Boro after which he was a night janitor at Clarion State College.

Jim served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII in the European Theater. After being discharged he attended 2 years of GI School getting a Pennsylvania State College Diploma in Agriculture.

Mr Sample enjoyed Coon and Deer Hunting, collecting firearms and exhibiting them at Gun Shows, flea markets. He participated in numerous Parades and weddings with his teams of ponies and mules. On Sept. 3, 1983, the Fort Armstrong Horsemen’s Association honored Jimmy by inducting him into their Horsemen’s Hall of Fame. He was honored as a person who had special qualities used within all phases of the horse industry. Jim was an avid member of the Leatherwood Anti-Horse Thief Association.

Jim will long be remembered for his love of animals, his quick wit and his “almost believable” stories!

Viewing Friday, January 3, 2014 at Goble Funeral Home and Crematory in Clarion 3p-8pm. Viewing on Saturday January 4, 10-11am at the White Chapel Church, Climax Rd, New Bethlehem, with an 11am Funeral Service to follow, officiated by Rev Ben Shindledecker. Jim will be given full Military Honors by the Walter Craig Post 354 of New Bethlehem. Interment will be at the Leatherwood Cemetery. The family requests no flowers but instead you may make a donation, in his name, to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.goblefh.net.


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Category: Obituaries