Sam Green, age 86, of Purcell, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at the Norman Veterans Center. Samuel William Green was born June 5, 1928 in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, a coal mining town.

He attended high school in Gary, WV, graduating in 1946. After high school, Sam began working at a coal cleaning tipple. He joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served his country proudly for four years during the Korean Conflict. November 1951 as fate would have it, he drove a friend to Purcell from Shepperd Air Force Base for a weekend trip and on this trip he met a young woman named Fannie Lou Idleman from Wayne. They fell in love and were united in marriage on March 1, 1952 in Wayne. Upon his discharge from the Air Force he began working for Glenn L. Martin Co. remaining at Sheppard Air Force base as a civilian instructor teaching military personnel for one year, then moving to Baltimore MD to continue his career. Later he began to work for Chance Vought/Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, TX. They made their home in the Arlington/Dallas area for more than 30 years. Together, they raised two daughters, Debbie and Cindy. After 30 years he retired from Lockheed Martin after a long and distinguished career. Sam and Fannie returned to Oklahoma settling in Wayne/Purcell area in 1987. Sam was sort of a “jack of all trades”. He was extremely gifted mechanically and enjoyed breaking things down so he could study them, only to rebuild it better than before. He was a faithful Christian and for many years was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Norman; he was currently a member of First Baptist Church of Purcell. Sam was a loving and caring husband and father; a remarkable grandfather, a special brother and uncle and a good friend. He will be dearly missed!

He was preceded in death by: His parents, Samuel and Ora Green; Grandson, Jacob Samuel Bernhardt and Brother, Harold Curtis Greene.

Sam leaves behind: His wife of more than 63 years, Fannie Lou Green of the home in Purcell; Two daughters, Debbie Rummage and husband John of Purcell and Cindy Bernhardt and husband Mike of Marlow; His sister, Norma Janice Sanders of Bluefield, WV; 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral Services are scheduled for 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 16, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Purcell. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemetery under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home.

Send online condolences at wilsonlittle.com. In lieu of flowers send memorial gift to Alzheimer’s Foundation, through Wilson-Little Funeral Home.