SAMUEL SMITH

I will miss my grandfather very much. I wish my grandmother solace. I am very grateful for what Samuel shared of himself for the world, for the people he knew, for his loved ones, and for me.

Unlce Sam, I have many fond memories of coming over and playing with your cat and seeing the beautiful flowers you grew outside. My prayers go out to all of your daughters, Patsy, Beverly, Suzanne and Karen, your grandchildren, your great-grandchild, your wife, Rosa, and all of your numerous nieces and nephews. I am sure that you have had a joyous reunion with siblings and family that have predeceased you, Uncle John Paul Smith, Aunt Beth Roselle, Josephine Grange (Captain Gifford Grange)....

My first memories of Sam I. are from Kentucky where we grew up together and his brother John Paul and I were friends. In the early 60's I moved to Jacksonville with my husband and five children and all attended Englewood High School. The entire student body loved Sam I. With deepest sympathy.

Oh the memories I have of you from when I was a little girl. I remember seeing you standing in my bedroom doorway in your plaid robe and sipping on coffee as I was waking up in my bed, the camping trips you took us on in the summer months, swimming at the pool at NAS Jax, seeing you on the black and white tv in the livingroom, roasting marshmallows in the fireplace and worrying how Santa would come down without getting burned, locking the bedroom door with no one in it and glad you didnt get...

Dad was a member of the greatest generation. Honor, sacrifice, service, love, commitment, family, friends, and faith were all important to him. To us, he was the greatest.

I am so very pleased to see all the wonderful things people have written about my Uncle Sam! Although I am a lot older than his daughters, Pat, Suzanne and Beverly, I still remember coming back to Jacksonville from college and spending holidays together as a family when they were children. As the years progressed, and the family grew and changed and moved away to all parts of the globe, it was still a given that whenever I came back to Jacksonville I would make it a point to go by to visit...

As a l950 graduate of Landon High School I have so many fond memories of the man the students affectionately called,"Sam I". I have known the other members of the Smith Family since I was a child. His sister, Beth Roselle was my 6th grade teacher and I still hold Betty Bedford his niece, a best friend. Mr. Smith will be missed by all and I send my deepest sympathy to Rosa and her family. I have never heard anyone say a bad word about our "Sam I".

There is a new star in the heavens and my life has been blessed.