Sam T. Timer

Sam Thomas Timer, 83, of Pinehurst, NC, passed away in his home on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, with his family beside him.
He was born in Scranton, PA, December 22, 1926, son of the late Lawrence Dillon and Ken-neth Thomas Timer. Sam attended Union High School, Union, NJ, and Panzer College, in Montclair, NJ, where he met his wife Ethel Joyce Pasvolsky Timer. They married in Bergenfield, NJ, in 1948, and raised four children. Sam served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a Sea Bee and fought in the invasion of Okinawa. He received his Master's degree in Administration at Calvin Coolidge College.
Sam was a career football coach. During his long, varied, and successful career, Sam coached at North Plainfield High School, University of Virginia, Clark High School, Wake Forest University, Virginia Military Institute, Cornell University, Duke University, Allegheny College, and Boston College. He retired to Pinehurst, NC in 1989. He came out of retirement in 1990 to coach the Birmingham Bulls in Birmingham, England, where they won the national championship. He won numerous other championships during his career and coached in the Cotton Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl.
Sam was a member of the Allegheny College and Montclair State Halls of Fame. He was a motivational football coach and served as a mentor and as an inspiration to many people including numerous football players. Sam’s offensive football strategies are included in football books, including American Football Strategies, by the American Football Coaches Association. He was recognized by the Massachusetts State College Football Foundation for his contributions to high school and college football. He believed, foremost, in a good education and always pushed everyone to do their best on and off the field.
Sam was a member of the American Football Coach’s Association, the Elks Club, and the First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, where he was a Deacon and an active member of the congregation and Sunday school classes. Sam was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Ken-neth Timer. Besides his wife, Ethel, he is survived by his four children, Lawrence Timer and Caryl Browner of Cary, North Carolina, Richard Timer of North East, Pennsylvania, and Katherine Moralez of Apex, NC, as well as nine grandchildren: Kim, Casey, and Kalen Timer, Sam and Gary Timer, Lauren and Joshua Browner, and Joseph and Elise Moralez, as well as three great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Jody Timer; two sons-in-law, Robert Browner and Ricky Moralez.
Friends are invited to attend funeral services at the First Baptist Church in Southern Pines at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday February 16th. Interment will be at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, the American Cancer Society, or to FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Boles Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is serving the family.