Dan Alden Samford

Dan was born January 25th, 1932 in El Dorado Arkansas. Soon after birth his family moved to Teneha Texas, where they ran a small farm. As a child, working alongside his father, he learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and honesty. His parents nurtured him into a deep abiding faith, which stood steady until his dying day. After graduating high school at the age of 16, Dan returned to El Dorado where his family had opened a general store.

He went on to get a B.S. degree from South East Arkansas College, and then a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. Thus began his career at Lion oil which would eventually become Monsanto. There he met his dear wife Patty Sewell Samford and they were married 04/11/1953. Straight from their honeymoon Dan and Patty went to Virginia, where he went to boot camp after enlisting in the army for 2 years. He remained in the reserves for another 2 years.

Upon returning to El Dorado where Dan resumed his career at Lion oil, he rose quickly through the company and was transferred to Trenton Michigan. Dan and Patty were thrilled to welcome their first child, daughter Beth, just after Christmas 1965. Soon after he was transferred to St. Louis MO, where in 1970 they joyfully welcomed son, Scott.

Highly intelligent and extremely determined, Dan began law school at Saint Louis University. He earned his Juris Doctor and joined the Missouri Bar Association. He was promoted again to the corporate law department of Monsanto, from where he eventually retired in 1998, after 45 years with the company.

Dan was an avid bowler, fisherman, and ace golfer (in his mind!) He was very athletic, having played football, basketball and running track throughout his high school and college years, and later by participating in the Senior Olympics Until he was 90! He applied his love and knowledge of these aspects when he became one of the leaders of Scott’s Boy Scout troop.

Dan was the very proud grandfather of six. He enjoyed attending their sporting events, concerts and theater performances regularly. In his later years he used his wisdom and experiences to teach and nurture his grandchildren.

He was a prolific thinker and spent much of his time doing crossword and sudoku puzzles. He also had a creative side which he used to write a musical, and papers about his views on time, math, and astronomy.

Fondly referred to as “the Energizer Bunny” by his family, Dan was strong, independent and active his whole life, even after several chronic illnesses began to limit his energy. He loved to garden and later became a bird enthusiast. Watching songbirds and hummingbirds with multiple feeders around his home intensified after Patty passed in 2020, as it was always her passion.

Dan will be celebrated and remembered fondly by daughter Beth Vlodek (Tom) and son Scott (Wendy) and grandchildren Nicholas, Sarah (Nick), Matthew and Noah Vlodek, Savannah and Evan Samford. He was preceded in death by his parents Elbert and Wylma Samford, brother Carl, and wife Patty.

A visitation will be held at Mt Zion United Methodist Church, located at 1485 Craig Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146, on November 4, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The funeral service will follow at the same location, starting at 11:00 am on November 4, 2025.

Burial will be at a later date, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.