Samuel was best known to family and friends as "Sam" and to his grandchildren as "Papa Sam". He was born the only son of Samuel H. Sproles and Gladys Elizabeth Galloway. Although born in Beaumont, he grew up and attended elementary and high school in Port Arthur, Texas. He studied engineering at Rice University and at the University of Texas in Austin where he obtained his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960. While at Austin he met the lover of his life, Frances Ellen Van Geem and they were married January 30, 1960, at the First Methodist Church in Eastland, Texas. the happy couple moved to San Diego, CA where Sam was employed in missile research and development. This employment carried him to Abilene, TX to support the Atlas ICBM system installed at various sites around Dyess AFB. During this time Sam and Frances were blessed with a son, Scott. Work next carried Sam and Frances to Sacramento, CA. There their son Brian was born. In 1964 they relocated to Huntsville, AL where Sam helped develop the craft which carried the first men to the Moon. It was in Huntsville where Sam and Frances' son Mark was born.

Sam's career included employment with General Dynamics and Aerojet General in CA and several companies in Huntsville, including PRC, Northrop, Rockwell, and Boeing. Sam was a senior engineer with the Boeing Company in Huntsville for more than 25 years before retiring in 1995. He was presented several awards for his accomplishments with the Apollo, Lunar Rover, Space Shuttle and Space Station programs and various other aerospace projects that he was a part over the years. Sam and Frances enjoyed travel, taking road trips throughout the US and Canada as well as cruises in the Caribbean and along the Mexican Pacific Coast. Sam always felt he was fortunate to have lived in interesting times, however, he said the greatest blessings in his life were his Christian upbringing, his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his savior, his wife, children and grandchildren.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel H. Sproles, Jr. and Gladys Galloway Bryant, his brother in law Neil Van Geem and wife Mary.