Samuel Padjen

Samuel Padjen, 94, of Camp Hill and formerly a longtime resident of Carlisle, passed away Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at the Woods of Cedar Run, Camp Hill.

Sam was born in Steelton on July 9, 1917, a son of the late Anna and Andrew Padjen. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Kathryn Diebler, and a brother, Steve Padjen.

Sam was a graduate of Steelton High School, Class of 1935, and graduated from Dickinson College in 1939, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and was an all-around athlete, excelling in football.

Sam held several Dickinson football records for 50 or more years, including career rushing, touchdowns, total points and yards per carry. Sam's accomplishments on the football field led to such honors as induction into the Dickinson College Sports Hall of Fame (1969), the South Central Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1982), and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1984).

After graduation from Dickinson, Sam was a teacher and assistant coach at Carlisle High School for several years before working for Standard Piezo Co. as director of its recreation program.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. After his discharge from the Navy, Sam joined the former Carlisle Tire & Rubber Co., where he was employed until his retirement from the Carlisle SynTec division in 1982. Sam then worked as a tipstaff at Cumberland County Courthouse until 1999.

Sam was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Carlisle, where he had served as president of the board of trustees and was also active in the United Methodist Men's Club. He was also a past member of the Carlisle school board and the Carlisle YMCA board, as well as a charter member of the Y's Men's Club. Sam also served on the board for the Cumberland-Perry ARC.

As a member of the Central PA-PIAA officials chapter, Sam enjoyed officiating high school football and basketball and had the honor of being selected as an official during one of the Big 33 games.

Sam is survived by his wife of 71 years, Margaret (Hartz) Padjen; one son, Samuel K. (and his wife, Nancy) Padjen of Mechanicsburg; one daughter, Idana P. (and her husband, Jim) Beck of Camp Hill; a sister, Anna Shelper of Harrisburg; two brothers, Andrew Padjen of Shiremanstown and George Padjen of Bethlehem; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Cathy) Beck, Amy (Chris) Schweisthal, Andrew J. Padjen, Daniel (Stacy) Beck, Derek (Tiffany) Beck, Nathan Beck and Devon (Lauren) Beck; and 10 great-grandchildren, Christopher and Sophia Schweisthal, Juliana and Abagail Beck, Kate and Jason Beck, Braden and Kylie Beck, Ava Beck and Harrison Beck.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Pastor Chris Schweisthal officiating. Burial with military honors by Cumberland County Honor Guard will be in Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens, Carlisle.

A viewing will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the services on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grane Hospice or Wounded Warrior Project or to Cumberland-Perry ARC.

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