Sam Sprague

Luther Samuel Sprague, 92, of Ellsworth, died Sunday, May 6, 2007, at home.

He was born May 17, 1914 in Bethlehem, a son of Harvey Wilson Sprague and Elizabeth Nace Sprague.

He was a graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem. In 1937 he graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor's degree of Science in Mining Engineering.

Mr. Sprague retired from Bethlehem Mines, where he worked for over 45 years as a Mining Engineer.

He was a member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Scenery Hill, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent. He also served for over 50 years on the church council and as church treasurer. He was later named treasurer emeritus and also served for several years as a Synod delegate.

For over 25 years, he served as the Boy Scout Master in Ellsworth and holds the Silver Beaver Award.

He was a member of the Scenery Hill Lions Club for 66 years with perfect attendance and served as president three times and held numerous other offices. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow, Ross DiMarco Fellow and received the International President's Certificate of Appreciation. He also received the Pennsylvania Counseller's Award, the club's President Appreciation Medal and the Proud Lion Award.

He spent the winters in Largo, Florida for 25 years, where he was also active with the Lions Club.

Mr. Sprague was also a founding member of the Pigeon Creek Sanitary Authority, served several years on the Bentleyville Public Library Board of Directors and was a member of Gideon's.

He was a member of the F&AM Lodge 237, Beallsville, the Shriners and the Odd Fellows.

On February 12, 1943 at First Presbyterian Church, Bentleyville, he married Ethel Ruth Marsteller, who died August 19, 1998.

Surviving are three children, Vivian S. Bauer and husband Jack of Scenery Hill, Elizabeth R. Dionne of Troy, North Carolina and Timothy P. Sprague and wife Carol of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Mildred Weir of Bentleyville and Maxine Kelly of Largo, Florida; a brother-in-law, Boyd Marsteller of Bentleyville and several nieces and nephews.

He was the last of his immediate family.

Deceased in addition to his wife are a granddaughter, Rebecca Dionne; a great-grandson, Luke Dionne; brother, Mark Sprague and sister, Marion Ammend.

Friends received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville (724-239-2255) and from 10 to 11 a.m., the hour of service, Saturday, May 12 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Scenery Hill, with the Pastor Anne Howe, officiating. Inurnment will follow in Scenery Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Scenery Hill Lions Club, Bentleyville Public Library or a charity of one's choice. The Scenery Hill Lions Club will hold a service of remembrance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. The F&AM Lodge will hold a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

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