Samuel Calvin Berry

1924 - 2021

Samuel Calvin Berry

Samuel Calvin Berry of Lynchburg, Virginia, went to be with his heavenly father on September 1, 2021. He was born in Jonesville, Virginia, on December 17, 1924. Preceding him in death were his parents, Otway Owen and Nancy Myrtle Berry; his brother, Charles M. Berry and Francis E. Berry (Red); and his sister, Mary Katherine (Berry) Joyce.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Margaret Jean (Smith) Berry; sons, J. Edward Berry and wife, Amy, of Troy, Va., David S Berry of Lynchburg, Va., and COL (USA, RET) J Douglas Berry and his wife, COL (USA, RET) Denise P Berry, of Bedford, Va.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Stephanie Berry Sawyer, David S. Berry Jr., Ryan E Berry and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Berry, Racheal Berry Besecker and her husband, Dustin Besecker, Jonathan D Berry Jr. and his wife, Lauren Lemon Berry, Jeremy D Berry and his wife, Julie Jordan Berry, and Aidan J. Berry. Additionally, he is survived by eight great-grandchildren, Taylor N. Berry, Blake D. Berry, Claire E. Berry, Gwyneth S. Besecker, Eli S. Besecker, Maddox I. Berry, Jacob C. Berry, and Luke R. Berry.

After graduating from high school in Jonesville, Va., at the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy (1943-46). After basic training and medical training school, he became a Navy Corpsman, assigned to the Navy's 7th Amphibious Assault Landing Force supporting the U.S. Marines aboard the U.S.S. Karnes APA 175. During the Invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, he landed with Army Forces as a Medic in the second wave on Omaha Beach. Following service in the European Campaigns, he was reassigned back to the U.S.S. Karnes, participating in combat operations in Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Sasebo, the Philippines, Guam, and Tientsin, China.

After being discharged from the Navy, he attended and graduated from Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va., with a bachelor's degree in Education, followed by post graduate studies at Vanderbilt University (Peabody), Nashville, Tenn. He taught elementary school, and high school biology and chemistry before becoming a high school principal for two years in Stickleyville, Va. (Lee County).

In 1953, he joined Sperry Marine Systems in Bristol, Tenn., serving initially as a human resources interviewer. While serving with Sperry, he lived in Bristol, Tenn., Abingdon, Va., Salt Lake City, Utah, Gainesville, Fla., and Charlottesville, Va. After 36 years of dedicated service, he retired as the Worldwide Corporate Personnel & Labor Relations manager for The Sperry Corporation.

After retiring from Sperry, he went back to his roots of farming. His passions were gardening, raising cattle and occasionally spending time on Norris Lake in Tennessee fishing and boating. In recent years, he became less active and unable to participate in his passions, though he said he lived a long and productive life, praising God for all the many blessings He showed upon him.

A memorial service with military honors will be held at Tharp Funeral Home, at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 25, 2021. Visitation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the National D-Day Memorial, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523.

Tharp Funeral Home & crematory is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com.