Obituary of Samuel Byron Wasson, 79
Name of Deceased | Samuel Byron Wasson |
Age | 79 |
Date of Death | 08/26/2010 |
Date of Birth | 02/17/1931 |
Funeral Home | Koch Funeral Home |
Samuel Byron Wasson, 79, of State College, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at Geisinger Medical Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1931, in Bellefonte, he was a son of the late Elliott Glenn and Myrtle Smith Wasson. On June 4, 1955, he married Rita Mae Sipple, who survives. He is also survived by three children, Susan Lynn Stark and her husband, Keith, of Centre Hall, Melody Diamond and her husband, Richard, of Cochranville, and David B. Wasson, Sr. and his wife, Melissa, of State College; five grandchildren, Aaron Stark, Justine Diamond, Samantha Diamond, Alexis Wasson, and David Wasson Jr.; one great-grandson, Xander Stark; two sisters, Mary Alice Wright and her husband, Stewart, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Roberta Grace Campbell and her husband, H. Robert, of State College; and a brother, Robert Edwin Wasson and his wife, Carol, of State College. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Betty Jane Babson.
Sam graduated from State College High School in 1948 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1954 from Penn State. He was a life-time member of the Penn State Alumni Association. He served in the Air National Guard as a Staff Sergeant with the 8254th Air Base Squadron. He was the president of Wasson Insurance Agency, Inc. in State College, since 1955. Sam was the first person from State College to earn the highest honor awarded by the Future Farmers of America. Sam was an elder member of the Spring Creek Presbyterian Church in Lemont, where he was a session member and former treasurer. He was president of the Spring Creek Presbyterian Cemetery Association and a member of the State College Lions Club where he earned the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the highest award in Lions Club. He was also a member of Patton-Ferguson Joint Authority, now the University Area Joint Authority for 35 years, earning the Sahli Award from the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association. He was a member of and active with the Sight Loss Support Group, where he and his wife, Rita, earned the Joseph R. Cardenuto Service Award. He was a member of Centre County Mutual, serving as president for many years. He also belonged to Victor Grange #159 in Boalsburg.
Sam will be most remembered for service to his community; State College has lost a local leader. Not only would he do anything for his insurance customers, but was also willing to put his many trade talents to work for anyone who asked. He was a jack of all trades, but was especially talented at electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry and small machine repair. Sam was also a successful inventor and innovator who seemed to be always able to solve any everyday problem, although he never patented anything.
Visitation will be 2 -4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, at Spring Creek Presbyterian Church, Lemont, with the Rev. David Meyer and Rev. David Krotchko officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Creek Presbyterian Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Spring Creek Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 31, Lemont, PA 16851, or to the State College Lions Club, c/o Charlie Forney, 754 Cornwall Road, State College, PA 16803.