Sam Daniel Baines

Sam was a stranger to none, as he was an easy conversationalist, an empathetic listener, and a loyal friend. He left home early, at the age of 16, to join the armed forces, serving 23-years in the United States Air Force. He was a highly decorated air traffic controller, during both war and peacetime. After retiring from the military, he became a successful corporate insurance executive for Wausau, despite having no experience or education in this arena. His life achievements took him far from the poverty he was born to in the Appalachian Mountains. He travelled the world with his family, instilling in his children independent and curious minds. Sam had many interests during his long life, from spelunking and rock hounding around his North Carolina home place, to scuba diving amongst the nurse sharks off the coast of Santa Barbara. He was an avid fisherman, square and ballroom dancer, scratch golfer, card shark, voracious reader, smitten with all things mathematical, an ethical leader, and completely devoted to his wife and family.

Sam is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Marianne (Johnsen); his children, Debra, Kathryn and Sam David; his grandchildren, Alyssa, Daniel, Madeleine and Sam; his siblings, Douglas Dale (Cone), Dallas Mitchell, and Dixie Lee (Baines); and chosen brother, Fred Zillner. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonia Pace and James Baines; and siblings James, and Donna (Messer).

Some never get to meet their heroes, but we grew up in the brilliant light of ours. A committal service with military honors will be held at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on December 26th, 2025 at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in Sam’s memory.