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REEDS SPRING, MO. - Samuel "Sam" Lawrence Arnold of Reeds Spring, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home of Mt. Vernon, Mo.
He was born in Enid, Okla., on Jan. 25, 1936, to the late Sylvester and Marella Arnold.
He graduated from Enid High School in 1955.
A career military airman, Sam enlisted in the Oklahoma Air National Guard at Vance Air Force Base while still in high school.
He served in the National Guard until his enlistment in the United States Air Force in 1957.
He served in the U.S. Air Force for 33 years, earning the rank of chief master sergeant.
Throughout most of his military career, he served as a flight engineer on a variety of C-130 models.
Sam logged over 14,000 flight hours, making him one of the most experienced air crew members in the Air Force.
He served two tours in Vietnam and was involved in a number of conflicts around the world during his career.
He met thousands of colleagues and friends and has remained close to many of them through the years.
After his retirement from the Air Force, he moved to southwest Missouri, where he fell in love with the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake.
He then taught industrial arts at Reeds Spring Gibson Technical Center for another 10 years.
Sam married Vera Dement on Oct. 16, 1992. Together, they loved to travel in their fifth wheel across the U.S. and serve in the Calvary Baptist Church of Kimberling City, Mo.
Sam has always had a close relationship with his family and loved spending time with his children and other family members.
He also was a beloved member of the community.
He served as president of the VFW Lampe Post 7146 in Lampe, Mo., was involved in the Elks Lodge, the USAF Firebird and Air Force Associations, as well as many other community organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Vera Arnold of Reeds Spring, Mo.; four children, Samuel Lawrence Jr. and wife Jill of Temecual, Calif., Michael Wayne of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., James Randell and wife Kim of Bakersfield, Calif., and Melissa Jean Dement of Rockaway Beach, Mo.; siblings, Norma Johnson of Enid, Okla., and Shirley Burk and husband Dale of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Lester Arnold and wife Jody of Enid, Okla.; four grandchildren, Kimberly, Shannon, Chad and Megan; and eight grandchildren.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2014, in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, with full military honors.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church of Kimberling City, Mo., building fund.
(Submitted by family)
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