Samuel Davis Warren Sr.

Sam was born August 27, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana to Jesse Charles and Myrtle Claire Edwards Warren. He grew up in Sterlington, Louisiana, and later moved to Kentucky with his family, attending high school at Owensboro High School. He was graduated from his beloved alma mater, the University of Kentucky, in 1956, having earned a degree in industrial engineering. He was an Eagle Scout and a Kentucky Colonel.

In high school, Sam met the love of his life, Barbara Ann Clarke. They were married on June 23, 1956, and moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where Sam went to work for Baroid in what was the beginning of a three-decade career in the oil and gas industry that would take him from “mud man" to company president. He worked as a service engineer on offshore wells in the Gulf of Mexico and land-based rigs in most of the parishes in South Louisiana. Barbara gave birth to their three sons Dave, Stephen and John, and the family lived in South Louisiana and New Orleans, where Sam ultimately was a Regional Manager for Baroid. The Warrens moved to Houston in 1976, when Sam took a position as President of the N.L. McCullough Company. He became President of N.L.’s Acme Tool Division in 1980. In 1981, he became Group President of Chromalloy Petroleum Services, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.

In retirement, Sam and Barbara spent time enjoying their grandchildren and traveling with friends. Sam also dearly loved golf, and serving as a golf marshal at local golf courses, and the friends he made doing it. Sam was an avid lifelong fan of his beloved Kentucky Wildcats, and enjoyed watching (and critiquing) games with his sons and grandchildren. He cherished a family outing to the 2011 Final Four in Houston with his sons and grandsons. He had a keen mind and was known for the well-placed quip delivered with impeccable timing and a dry wit. He honed family stories into an art form, overlaying precious memories with a touch of mischief. He loved music (mostly, as sung by his beloved Barbara) and had a wide range of tastes, from Elvis to, more recently, fellow Kentucky native Jordan Smith.

Those who knew Sam and Barbara best describe theirs as a true love story from the beginning. After he lost Barbara in 2004, Sam never spoke to his family without telling them how much he missed her. He could often be found gazing at a photo of her that he kept next to her chair. He was an adoring father and grandfather, who taught much by his examples of hard work, selflessness, and self-discipline. He was a faithful and dedicated friend, and his friendships spanned many miles and decades. He lived passionately and well.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 48 years, Barbara. He is survived by his sons Samuel Davis, Jr. (“Dave”) and wife Darbi; son Stephen; and son John; his grandchildren Lesley Warren, Collin Warren, Stephen Clarke Warren, Christopher Warren, and Jared Warren; his sister, Merilyn Sue Fentress; sister- and brother-in-law Susan and Ed Ball; several nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of admiring friends.

A memorial service is planned for Monday, December 19, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home in The Woodlands. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DeBakey Heart Disease Prevention Center at Methodist Hospital.