Carol Ann Sampson

Carol Ann Sampson passed away on June 19, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. She was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on August 3, 1939, to Harold and Minnie Griffith. As a young child, Carol moved with her family to Mason City, Iowa.

Carol was a 1957 graduate of Mason City High School, where she played the bassoon in the band. She was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and served as the Worthy Advisor for the Mason City Assembly. It was in high school where she met the love of her life, Terry Sampson. After high school she would go on to attend the former Mason City Junior College, now known as North Iowa Area Community College. Carol completed a two-year elementary education program earning an associate in arts degree in 1959. Upon graduation, Carol would go on to teach elementary school in West Branch, Iowa.

Carol married her high school sweetheart, Terry Sampson, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Mason City in 1959. She would teach elementary school in West Branch as Terry completed his degree in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa. Upon Terry’s graduation from college the young couple would move to Decatur, Illinois and start their family. Carol was a devoted wife and mother throughout their marriage. The couple eventually settled in Bettendorf, Iowa and raised a large family which included opening their home to foster children from Vietnam and Cambodia, forever enriching their lives.

In 1984, Carol and Terry purchased Willcox Drug Store in Willcox, Arizona. Carol loved to manage the giftware section of the store and took great pride in stocking the area with wonderful merchandise. Upon the closing of Willcox Drug Store they eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona.

Carol served as Mother Advisor to the Bettendorf Assembly #151, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Carol and Terry both worked with the Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption rescue group helping to place retired racing greyhounds with families in Tucson. Together they loved and cared for nine greyhounds of their own and fostered many more.

She is survived by her children, Lisa (John) Ewoldt of Gilbert, AZ, Kevin (Galit Dermer) Sampson of Tucson, AZ, Darcy (Robert) O’Brien of Tucson, AZ, Amee (Jake) Rogers of Litchfield Park, AZ and Kara (Leroy) Hackwith of Springfield, IL. Foster children include Tuan (Melanie) Dao of Urbandale, IA, Thanh Tran of Johnston, IA, and Jamie Suong Phan of Alliance, NE. Grandchildren include Emily, Nathan (Emily), and Kyle Ewoldt; Eric (Sierra), Madison, and Aubrey O’Brien; and Ashley and Chase Rogers. Great-grandchildren include Charlotte, Eleanor, and John.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Terry Sampson; her parents, Harold and Minnie Griffith; and her sisters, Judith Losh and Mary Meeker.

The family will hold private services at East Lawn Palms Mortuary in Tucson, Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to Arizona Homestead, the assisted living home which provided such wonderful care for our mother in her final years.