John was born October 22, 1943 to Bill and Margaret Samples in Cleveland, OH. They moved to Kingsport, TN when he was very young and that is where he spent the majority of his life. He graduated from Ketron High School and joined the Air Force in service to his country, which would be the first of many years he would serve those around him. He married the love of his life, Beulah Ann Dishner in 1962, and together they started a family that they would love together for the next 57 years, until his passing on April 11, 2020.
He was predeceased by both of his parents, his brother Danny Samples and his wife Sue, his brother Richard Samples and his wife Polly, his father and mother-in-law, Paul and Mary Dishner, his sister-in law Paula Osborne, his brother-in law Alec Garland, his infant daughter Robin Renee Samples, his daughter Lisa Samples, and his infant granddaughter Ashley Nicole Samples.
He is survived by his wife Beulah, his brother Don Samples (Ramona), his brother-in-law Melvin Osborne, his sister-in-law Glenda Garland, his son John Jr. (Kimberly), his daughters Lori Samples and Leah Samples (Bill Dake Jr.), his grandchildren John III, Jacob and Abigail Samples, his great granddaughter Elizabeth (John III), as well as many nieces and nephews and his very good friends, Jim and Janet Wells and Charles and Reba McCray.
John’s life was an example of service and care for his family and his community. His family knew that they were the most important earthly thing to him. He raised them to love God and each other, and to understand there was no greater act of service than to love your neighbor as yourself. He demonstrated this through his involvement in his church where he served as a deacon, a bus driver, and volunteered to do whatever needed to be done in the church. This is where he learned that when working in an attic, always step on the joists because the sheetrock will not hold you and you will fall to the pews below. He also served in the Lions Club of Kingsport for many years and then when he moved his family to upstate New York in 1985, he was instrumental in starting the Broadalbin-Perth Lions Club and was an active member, serving as club President and eventually as District Governor. Many broomsticks and lightbulbs were sold in Kingsport to raise money for services for the blind. We even housed turtles (lots of turtles) for a turtle derby fundraiser one year. In New York, there were more fundraisers, concession stands at youth sports events, collections of used glasses, all to support the needs of others, including college scholarships for seniors of Broadalbin Perth High School. Even when his health was failing and he was going through chemotherapy, he was arranging for donations of snacks to the Regional Cancer Center at Indian Path in Kingsport so that other patients going through chemotherapy would be able have a healthy snack during treatment. John was a member of Bloomingdale Baptist Church.
Due to the concerns with the Coronavirus, the family is delaying the service and will plan one when it is safer to travel and when loved ones can actually gather and celebrate the incredible life of this amazing man. Until then, we remember Johnny, Dad, Poppy, Pops, Gramps, Capital S in our hearts and cherish the memories of the time we had, and look forward to the day when we will be reunited with him in the presence of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, where he is now enjoying eternity, free of cancer, free of pain, perfectly whole, and perfectly at peace.
