Samuel Minor

Samuel F. Minor

1938-2019

“Last night at 11:11 p.m. on 11-11-19 my strong, sweet Poppy went to be with Jesus. It was one of the holiest experiences being so close to Heaven with the family he loved, worshiping, crying, laughing, saying good-bye. The sentiment that was echoed over and over was how he always saw the best in people. My dad said it best when he said, “If we could all be the people Sam believed we could be…”. Poppy’s love for people, his deep questions, the way he treated my GaGa 58 years of marriage later. It’s a beautiful holy legacy. The grief comes in waves, but I am so thankful for this beautiful family to be with in the ebb and flow of life. Last night the earth poured tears of rain as he passed and this morning it turned to beautiful snow, a picture of the celebration of his life. I love you Poppy, so so much.” Hannah, Sam’s oldest of 21 grandchildren.

Sam Minor was raised in Garards Fort, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1956 from Mapletown High School. He then headed to Penn State to pursue a degree in Ag Economics. In a fairy tale romance he and Beverly Robison met back up at Penn State, after a summer romance at the Greene County Fair in their teenage years, and married upon his graduation. They both left their family farms behind to pursue careers in industry around the countryside, but eventually realized that they wanted to raise their brood of five in the same culture in which they had been raised…on the farm. Sam and Bev moved to a then-85 acre farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania and started dreaming of the future. Together, with a strong faith in a loving God and the help of many friends, they made their dream come true when they built and opened their country store, The Spring House, and started milking cows and processing milk almost forty four years ago. Over the years, that little country store grew to include 400 acres, a milking herd of 125 cows, a buffet style restaurant, catering, an expanded bakery, and three generations working in the business…all of which blessed Sam immensely!

Sam had many passions! His God; his wife Bev and their family (now totaling 35!); Grace United Methodist Church; his wonderful dog Thor; dreaming big; Penn State and especially the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Wrestling Team (of which he was a winning wrestler 1957-1960 and the Captain in 1960); Alpha Zeta Agricultural Fraternity; the National Dairy Advisory Board; Agway Board of Directors; CARAT-a Penn State Lobbying Group; Pa Farm Bureau; Soil Conservation; Washington Hospital Board of Trustees; Pa Holstein Association (President); Farm Credit Board of Directors; and Canon Mac School Board member. Awards over the years have included Penn State Alumni Fellow, Pennsylvania Master Farmer, Soil Conservationist of the Year, and Community Foundation Philanthropy Award.

Sam is survived by his wife Beverly, four daughters and a son and their families.

Friends and families will be received at Grace United Methodist Church, 420 California Drive, Coal Center, PA 15423. All viewings and the service will happen at the church. Viewings will be: Thursday, November 14, 6-8 pm. Friday, November 15: 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. An additional visitation for those traveling will be from 12-1 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. A “Celebration of Life” service will begin at one pm Saturday, November 16. Because some friends have asked, should anyone prefer an option to sending flowers, donations can be made in Sam’s name to any of the following that were near and dear to Sam’s heart:

Grace United Methodist Church, 420 California Drive, Coal Center, PA 15423

Washington County Community Foundation, PO Box 308, Eighty Four, PA 15330

Penn State Entrepreneurial Scholarship-See link to website - www.raise.psu.edu/SamMinorMemorial

Arrangements in care of the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville, 724-239-2255

Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message and share photos.

To plant memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Samuel Minor, please visit our flower store.

Visitation

Thursday November 14th, 2019

6:00pm - 8:00pm

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Visitation

Friday November 15th, 2019

2:00pm - 4:00pm

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Visitation

Friday November 15th, 2019

6:00pm - 8:00pm

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Visitation

Saturday November 16th, 2019

12:00pm - 1:00pm

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Celebration of Life

Saturday November 16th, 2019

1:00pm

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Samuel Minor, please visit our floral store.