Zethalene C. Samples

Zethalene "Zet" Samples was born June 9, 1939 and received her wings on November 14, 2021. Zethalene was the seventh of eight children born from the union of Claude and Jennie Lee [Harris] Dean. Zethalene was raised in Kistler, West Virginia, where she attended Accoville School. Following the death of her father, at the age of 12, the family relocated to OH, eventually settling in Hamilton. Zethalene attended Hamilton Public Schools through 9th grade. She went on to earn her GED in 1977 and to attend Miami University-Hamilton from 1978-1980. Zethalene obtained her Real Estate license [Indiana] in 1992. On July 19, 1955—at the age of 16—Zethalene married Ira Leon Samples. Zethalene and Ira shared the dream of a large family and went on to become the parents of 13 children, 27 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 13 great, great grandchildren. The couple was married for 59 years at the time of Ira's death in 2014. Zethalene’s life was largely defined by her role as a stay-at-home wife and mother. She, however, found a place for herself outside the home, serving as an adult education instructor at Notre Dame School (1976-1980); as supervisor at the US Census Bureau; as an employee at the Internal Revenue Service; and, as a team member at Gold Circle Department Store. Zethalene was a divinely religious woman, who believed in treating others as you wished to be treated. She stood firm on the rule of reserving judgment of others in the absence of knowledge or understanding of their circumstances. She was also an avid reader, who enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing cards with friends. Zethalene is preceded in death by her husband, Ira Leon Samples; sons, Joseph Samples and Joshua (Heidi) Samples; siblings, Reatha Lee Wood, Francis Barnes, Willie and Nathaniel Dean; and, parents, Jennie Lee and Claude Dean. Left to cherish Zethalene’s memory are her siblings, Madelyn, Pauline and Leonard Dean; her children, Demetrius Samples, Zipporah Samples (Henry) Jackson; Isaiah Samples, Lamidia Hayes, Lamidius (Thumnieb) Samples, Saymara (Lonnie) Nicks, Malachi Samples, Dr. Faith Samples-Smart, Dr. Lydia Samples (Kevin) Mattison, Lydell Samples; Hezekiah (Nicole) Samples; Siyon (Antwon) Ware, and Siyonda (Carlos) Nadal; a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Zethalene was a staple of the Hamilton community, and she will be dearly missed.