Posted on 03/26/2018
Col. Robert Whitley Sample, Jr. (Ret.) (May 7, 1939 - March 21, 2018)
Robert Whitley Sample, Jr., died peacefully at home of complications related to cancer.
He was the son of Robert Whitley Sample and Mary Frances (née McCarthy) Sample, who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn McPeak Sample (Galestown, MD); his children, Paul Sample (Levittown, PA) and Maria Sample (San Francisco, CA); his stepchildren, Scott McPeak and Carrie Hill (both of West Chester, PA); his grandchildren, Brendan Sample and Erin Sample (both of Langhorne, PA), Natalie Crawford (San Francisco, CA), and Annalise McPeak, Caroline Hill, Andrew Hill, Nolan McPeak and Ryan Hill (all of West Chester PA); and his brothers, Paul Sample (Parsonsburg, MD) and Tom Sample (Salisbury, MD).
Born in Salisbury, MD, Bob traveled the globe, lived all over the country and finally settled in Galestown, MD, in 2006. He graduated from Wicomico High School, where he was on the record-setting football and track teams. Bob received his bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and later earned his master's degree from MIT.
Bob joined the Air Force and trained to become a pilot. His service to his country including assignments flying in supplies during the Vietnam War, three stints at the Pentagon and commanding the 60th Military Airlift Wing at Travis Air Force Base. He retired as a Colonel and later worked in the graduate engineering offices at Cornell University and the University of Delaware. He also assisted his wife in her mail management business and was a very active volunteer, giving his time and energy to Meals on Wheels and Ruritan.
A service of Christian burial will be held Saturday, June 16 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church of Delmar. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Joseph House of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church of Delmar, the Galestown Ruritan Club or Meals on Wheels of Seaford.
Published in The Daily Times on Mar. 25, 2018