Sam Hendricks Hollabaugh

Jesus said, "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Sam Hendricks Hollabaugh passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28. He lived a good life for 98 years. Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Jewel Pearl Kuykendall Hollabaugh. His legacy includes a daughter, Phyllis Barnett of Katy, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He also has a nephew, Steve Hollabaugh of Irving.

He was known as Hendricks to his friends and family and Sam to his Army buddies and fellow workers. He laid down his life for his friends, fellow soldiers, co-workers, and family in many ways. He put others' needs before his own. His mother died when he was three years old. He lived with his aunt and uncle on their farm near Midlothian until his father remarried several years later. After his father remarried, he returned to Dallas to live with his father and his new mother. He went to Adamson High School. As an all-state baseball player on a state championship-winning team, he had an opportunity to play professional baseball. However, because of his father, he didn't want to move away from home. Regardless of the desire to be close to home, Sam was drafted into the United States Army. He had no choice but to move away. After boot camp, he followed the Marines into the Bougainville Campaign, fighting in the Battle for Cebu City and ending his service victoriously in Tokyo as the war ended. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for bravery. On one of these occasions, he fought out of an ambush, saving many lives.

After the war, he returned to Dallas and worked for the MKT railroad. He had an opportunity to advance but would have had to move to the Sherman-Denison area. However, he didn't want to leave his father, so he stayed in Dallas. A friend recruited him to work with the Texas Employment Commission, which he did with distinction for 42 years, ending his career as a manager for the Pleasant Grove office.

He started his family by marrying someone he met at work, Jewel Pearl (Judy) Kuyrkendall. Judy was the love of his life for 64 years! They had one daughter, Phyllis Diane Barnett, and her husband, David. His legacy includes three grandchildren - Matthew Barnett and his wife, Danyel; Melissa Bartee and her husband, Payton; and Michael Hendricks Barnett. He also has four great-grandchildren - Jude, Graham, Sadie, and Griffin. Sam attended the Garland Road/Highland Oaks Church of Christ from 1965 until 2013.

His memorial service will be at the DFW National Cemetery on Monday, May 15, at 2:00.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the Hollabaugh family.