Major Samuel Charles McPherson, a two-time veteran infantryman of the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2021 surrounded by family at his residence in The Chamberlin at Ft. Monroe, VA.
Sam's joy for life was evident in everything he did. He had an infectious smile and many would say that once you met him, you knew you had a friend for life. He was a loving husband, father and D-daddy to, in his words, "six of his favorite people".
Sam, Sammie, Uncle Sam, or D-daddy, some of the many names he went by, was born on March 29, 1937, in Nocona, TX where he lived until his sophomore year and then moved to Wichita Falls, TX where he graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1955. He joined the ROTC program at Midwestern State University where he met his sweetheart, Reva Ray Patton, who handed him his first uniform and then almost ran him over with her car as he was trying to get her attention. Despite the precarious start, they fell in love and were married for 61 years until his sweetheart passed away in 2019.
In dedication to his country, Sam served as a US Army Infantry Officer, Operations and Plans Officer, Club Management Officer, and Chief Allied Liaison Officer. He was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10yr. Service, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Service Stars, Vietnam Staff Service Medal First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm. Sam retired with full honors in 1982.
In continued dedication, Sam served 23 years as the Program Analyst, Operations Division, Security Assistance Training Field Activity for US Army TRADOC. He earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and retired in 2007.
Sam was an active member and huge advocate for the American Legion, Braxton-Perkins Post 25 in Newport News, VA. He volunteered much of his time with his dedicated involvement to support and sustain the American Legion. Sam occupied many positions including Post Commander, Vice Commander (1st & 2nd), Financial Officer, and sat in basically every "seat" that needed to be filled. He was key in bringing back American Legion Baseball and led the committees coordinating Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.
Samuel is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, James and Kay McPherson of Allen, TX, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Keith and Kelli McPherson of Glen Allen, VA, Derrell and Shannon McPherson of Fredericksburg, VA, one daughter and son-in-law, Robbie and Wade Garnett of Yorktown, VA and six grandchildren, Randi Farris, Chase McPherson, Connor McPherson, Jordan McPherson, Haylie Garnett and Bryce McPherson. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family invites friends to the viewing and funeral service on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA.
Published by Daily Press on Aug. 11, 2021.
Sam's joy for life was evident in everything he did. He had an infectious smile and many would say that once you met him, you knew you had a friend for life. He was a loving husband, father and D-daddy to, in his words, "six of his favorite people".
Sam, Sammie, Uncle Sam, or D-daddy, some of the many names he went by, was born on March 29, 1937, in Nocona, TX where he lived until his sophomore year and then moved to Wichita Falls, TX where he graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1955. He joined the ROTC program at Midwestern State University where he met his sweetheart, Reva Ray Patton, who handed him his first uniform and then almost ran him over with her car as he was trying to get her attention. Despite the precarious start, they fell in love and were married for 61 years until his sweetheart passed away in 2019.
In dedication to his country, Sam served as a US Army Infantry Officer, Operations and Plans Officer, Club Management Officer, and Chief Allied Liaison Officer. He was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10yr. Service, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Service Stars, Vietnam Staff Service Medal First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm. Sam retired with full honors in 1982.
In continued dedication, Sam served 23 years as the Program Analyst, Operations Division, Security Assistance Training Field Activity for US Army TRADOC. He earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and retired in 2007.
Sam was an active member and huge advocate for the American Legion, Braxton-Perkins Post 25 in Newport News, VA. He volunteered much of his time with his dedicated involvement to support and sustain the American Legion. Sam occupied many positions including Post Commander, Vice Commander (1st & 2nd), Financial Officer, and sat in basically every "seat" that needed to be filled. He was key in bringing back American Legion Baseball and led the committees coordinating Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.
Samuel is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, James and Kay McPherson of Allen, TX, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Keith and Kelli McPherson of Glen Allen, VA, Derrell and Shannon McPherson of Fredericksburg, VA, one daughter and son-in-law, Robbie and Wade Garnett of Yorktown, VA and six grandchildren, Randi Farris, Chase McPherson, Connor McPherson, Jordan McPherson, Haylie Garnett and Bryce McPherson. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family invites friends to the viewing and funeral service on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA.
Published by Daily Press on Aug. 11, 2021.
Major Samuel Charles McPherson, a two-time veteran infantryman of the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2021 surrounded by family at his residence in The Chamberlin at Ft. Monroe, VA.
Sam's joy for life was evident in everything he did. He had an infectious smile and many would say that once you met him, you knew you had a friend for life. He was a loving husband, father and D-daddy to, in his words, "six of his favorite people".
Sam, Sammie, Uncle Sam, or D-daddy, some of the many names he went by, was born on March 29, 1937, in Nocona, TX where he lived until his sophomore year and then moved to Wichita Falls, TX where he graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1955. He joined the ROTC program at Midwestern State University where he met his sweetheart, Reva Ray Patton, who handed him his first uniform and then almost ran him over with her car as he was trying to get her attention. Despite the precarious start, they fell in love and were married for 61 years until his sweetheart passed away in 2019.
In dedication to his country, Sam served as a US Army Infantry Officer, Operations and Plans Officer, Club Management Officer, and Chief Allied Liaison Officer. He was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10yr. Service, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Service Stars, Vietnam Staff Service Medal First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm. Sam retired with full honors in 1982.
In continued dedication, Sam served 23 years as the Program Analyst, Operations Division, Security Assistance Training Field Activity for US Army TRADOC. He earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and retired in 2007.
Sam was an active member and huge advocate for the American Legion, Braxton-Perkins Post 25 in Newport News, VA. He volunteered much of his time with his dedicated involvement to support and sustain the American Legion. Sam occupied many positions including Post Commander, Vice Commander (1st & 2nd), Financial Officer, and sat in basically every "seat" that needed to be filled. He was key in bringing back American Legion Baseball and led the committees coordinating Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.
Samuel is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, James and Kay McPherson of Allen, TX, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Keith and Kelli McPherson of Glen Allen, VA, Derrell and Shannon McPherson of Fredericksburg, VA, one daughter and son-in-law, Robbie and Wade Garnett of Yorktown, VA and six grandchildren, Randi Farris, Chase McPherson, Connor McPherson, Jordan McPherson, Haylie Garnett and Bryce McPherson. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family invites friends to the viewing and funeral service on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA.
Published by Daily Press on Aug. 11, 2021.
Sam's joy for life was evident in everything he did. He had an infectious smile and many would say that once you met him, you knew you had a friend for life. He was a loving husband, father and D-daddy to, in his words, "six of his favorite people".
Sam, Sammie, Uncle Sam, or D-daddy, some of the many names he went by, was born on March 29, 1937, in Nocona, TX where he lived until his sophomore year and then moved to Wichita Falls, TX where he graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1955. He joined the ROTC program at Midwestern State University where he met his sweetheart, Reva Ray Patton, who handed him his first uniform and then almost ran him over with her car as he was trying to get her attention. Despite the precarious start, they fell in love and were married for 61 years until his sweetheart passed away in 2019.
In dedication to his country, Sam served as a US Army Infantry Officer, Operations and Plans Officer, Club Management Officer, and Chief Allied Liaison Officer. He was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10yr. Service, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Service Stars, Vietnam Staff Service Medal First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm. Sam retired with full honors in 1982.
In continued dedication, Sam served 23 years as the Program Analyst, Operations Division, Security Assistance Training Field Activity for US Army TRADOC. He earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and retired in 2007.
Sam was an active member and huge advocate for the American Legion, Braxton-Perkins Post 25 in Newport News, VA. He volunteered much of his time with his dedicated involvement to support and sustain the American Legion. Sam occupied many positions including Post Commander, Vice Commander (1st & 2nd), Financial Officer, and sat in basically every "seat" that needed to be filled. He was key in bringing back American Legion Baseball and led the committees coordinating Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.
Samuel is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, James and Kay McPherson of Allen, TX, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Keith and Kelli McPherson of Glen Allen, VA, Derrell and Shannon McPherson of Fredericksburg, VA, one daughter and son-in-law, Robbie and Wade Garnett of Yorktown, VA and six grandchildren, Randi Farris, Chase McPherson, Connor McPherson, Jordan McPherson, Haylie Garnett and Bryce McPherson. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The family invites friends to the viewing and funeral service on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA.
Published by Daily Press on Aug. 11, 2021.
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