Msgt. Samuel Sam Allenbaugh Sr.

Samuel Allenbaugh, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 9, 2014 at Homestead of Denison nursing home.

Sam was born in Martha, Oklahoma on February 22, 1925 to Paul and Emma Allenbaugh. He married Fern Litton on February 8, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was a member of East Baptist Church in Denison, Texas. Sam loved his family and friends deeply and would do anything for them.

Sam enlisted in the Air Force in 1945 and retired in 1972 at Perrin Air Force Base with the rank of Master Sergeant after 26 years, 3 months and 7 days of service. While in the air Force, he worked in Personnel, in charge of service records, payroll and benefits. He also served as an instructor in leadership schools and taught basic qualifications in preparation for tropical survival of personnel in an Air Commando Air Force organization. While in Vietnam, Sam supervised on the job training for all Air Force Reconnaissance. He also participated in the Berlin Air Lift in West Germany in 1948 and was a part of an air transport squadron that delivered coal to Berlin during the Russian Blockade.

In December of 1953, Sgt. Allenbaugh was called to pastor at Cherry Mound Baptist Church in Denison, Texas. He went on to pastor at Oak Ridge Baptist, Bellmont Baptist Church in Denison, Kemp Baptist in Kemp, Oklahoma, Prairie View Baptist in Achille, Oklahoma and Hendrix Baptist Church in Hendrix, Oklahoma. He graduated from Grayson College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, majoring in Speech.

Many people knew Sam as the man who sold vegetables near the Red River Bridge east of Denison. In addition, Sam was also known for his sense of humor, his ability to tell a story and his unwavering faith. Even though he will be greatly missed by his family and friends, Sam had a deep assurance of where he was going and is now finally home. As Sam would sing, “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”

Sam is survived by his sons, Sam Allenbaugh, Jr. and wife Jo of Pottsboro, Texas and Gary Allengbaugh and wife Leisa of Sherman, Texas; daughters Doris Colley of Castle Rock, Colorado, Jan Clark and husband Jim of Sherman; grandchildren Ashley Allenbaugh of Los Colinas, Amber Allenbaugh of Whitewright, Jessica Berry and husband Steve of Seattle, Washington, Sara Colley of Denver, Colorado, Madison Colley of Castle Rock, Colorado, Krista Allenbaugh of Sherman, Alexander Clark and wife Katie of San Antonio, Amanda Clark of Denton, Sam Clark of Sherman; great-grandchildren Anabelle and William Carroll of Whitewright and Connor Berry of Seattle, Washington. Sam is due to have another great-granddaughter to be born this November who will be named Emma after his mother.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Fern Allenbaugh; his parents Paul and Emma Allenbaugh; son Paul Glenn Allenbaugh; sister Ellen Allenbaugh and brother Ona Allenbaugh.

The family will be at Bratcher Funeral Home in Denison Thursday, September 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 12 at Bratcher Funeral Home Chapel with retired Colonel Carl Bilderback officiating. Burial will be Monday, September 15 at 11:30 a.m. at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas.

Personal condolences may be made at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com