Obituary of James H. Sample

Smethport - James "Jim" Henry Sample, 77, of Smethport, passed away Saturday (October 7, 2017) at his home in Smethport. He was born April 6, 1940 in Rasselas, PA, the son of John "Jack" S. and Carmella Margaret Allegretto Sample. On April 20, 1963 in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Smethport, PA, he married Georganne Wright, who survives. Mr. Sample attended Wilcox schools and was a graduate of Johnsonburg High School class of 1958 and attended the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Mr. Sample drove truck for his dad and worked at the Johnsonburg Paper Mill as a young man. On June 24, 1963, he began working for National Fuel Gas in their Clermont office, where he stayed for 15 years. In 1978, he took a promotion and moved to Oil City where he worked in Safety Compliance for NFG. In 1981, he took the job of Sr. Foreman in St. Marys, where he worked until he transferred to Kane in 1986. He was promoted to Asst. District Forman and retired in 2002. Jim was a member of the Wilcox Lodge #571 F&AM and a past member of Smethport Odd Fellows, the Coudersport Consistory and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Smethport. His interests had included hunting with his family and friends, especially those special friends of Camp Beechwood. In the past 3 years he had started raising bees and shared that hobby with his daughter, Brooke. He and his wife were able to make many trips after his retirement and were able to visit 48 of the 50 states. They especially enjoyed their time spent in the West. All family was important to Jim and he will be greatly missed by them, but he formed a special bond with his grandson, Thomas, who loved trains. He built a large track in the basement for them to enjoy time together. In addition to his wife, he is survived by: two daughters: Cheryl Lynn Sample of East Smethport and Brooke (Nick) Wolosewicz of Smethport one son: Reid S. Sample of Smethport 6 grandchildren; Axel, Austin, Autumn, Caleigh, Thomas and Jacob (Poppa's Little Jake). 3 Great Grandchildren: Isaiah, Greyson and Oaklin four sisters: Jean Swanson of Wilcox, Joanne (Dave) Andrus of Howard Siding, PA, Joyce Smart of Clyde, NC, Julie (Tim) Valentine of St. Marys, PA one brother: Joseph (Kathy) Sample of Hickory, NC, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Jeff and Harry "Buck" Sample and seven sisters Janet Howard, June Sample, Janie Barber, Elmira Smith, Betty Allegretto, Leone Sigworth and Gertrude Northrop. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., 2 Bank St., Smethport, PA. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 11 at 11:00 am in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Smethport with the Rev. Joann Piatko, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Smethport. A Masonic service will be conducted in the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:30 PM. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Smethport.