Samuel A. Walkington Jr.

Thursday, June 30, 2005

April 16, 1919-June 29, 2005

CAMBRIDGE -- Samuel A. Walkington Jr. was born the seventh of nine children to Georgia Ellen (Catlett) and Samuel A. Walkington Sr. on April 16, 1919, in the homestead home of his paternal grandparents, located in north Red Willow County, Nebraska. He entered into rest on June 29, 2005 at McCook Community Hospital, McCook, Neb. Although he had been a resident of Willow Ridge Assisted Living in McCook the last two years, he was a life-long resident of Cambridge, Neb.

As a young man, Sam enjoyed playing baseball, football, and competed in the state high school track meet in Lincoln. For a number of years he held the Cambridge High School 440-yard track record. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1936.

Upon graduation, Sam assisted his parents with their farming, helped his older brothers deliver truckloads of peaches through the Colorado Mountains, and worked as a member of the construction crew for the Kingsley Dam in Ogallala.

He served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the 3839th Quartermaster Gasoline Company of the 5th Army, serving in campaigns in Morocco, Algeria, Sicily, Italy, the Philippines, and Japan. Upon his return home, Sam worked for the Rural Electric Authority helping bring electricity to rural residents in the area.

On Aug. 22, 1948, he married Anna June Lynn in Minden. Neb. They were blessed with two daughters, Mary Lynn and Sue Ann. In the early years of their marriage, Sam worked as a carpenter, for Lockenour Furniture, and as farmer with this brother, Paul. Working nights and weekends, he remodeled an older house he and Anna June purchased which became the center for creating cherished memories of being at Grandma June's and Grandpa Sam's for their six grandchildren. He was proud of his sons-in-law and received great joy from being "Grandpa Sam" to his grandchildren. Anna June preceded him in death on April 24, 2002.

A long-time successful farmer and rancher, Sam was a forward-looking community citizen. He served Cambridge as a volunteer fire fighter, a city councilman, school board president, American Legion Post commander, and as an active leader of the First Congregational Church.

He is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Mary Lynn and Jim Schaffer of Lincoln, Neb., and Sue Ann and Jeff Mollring, McCook, Neb.; grandchildren Scott Mollring and fiancée Annie Anderson, Kearney, Neb., Grant and Mandi Mollring, Eustis, Neb., Jay and Amanda Mollring, Kearney, Neb., Suzanne Schaffer, St. Paul, Minn., Sarah and Stephen Schaffer, Lincoln, Neb.; his sisters Ada Knapp, San Diego, Calif., and Hilma Flint, Cambridge, Neb.; sister-in-law Virginia Thorndike, Santa Barbara, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Sam was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses Paul and Alberta Walkington, Vern and Maude Walkington, Shirley Walkington, Leon and June Walkington, Wayne Walkington, Hazel and Dean Miller, and Glen Knapp. Also preceding him in death were his brothers-in-law Engaard and wife Marjorie Lynn, and George Thorndike.

A committal service will be held graveside on Sat. July 2, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., at the Fairview Cemetery in Cambridge. A military committal will be given by the American Legion Post of Cambridge.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Congregational Church in Cambridge on July 2, 2005, at 11 a.m.

Memorials may be addressed to the Cambridge First Congregational Church, American Legion Post No. 199 in Cambridge, Neb., or Willow Ridge Assisted Living, McCook, Neb.

Lockenour Jones Mortuary of Cambridge is in charge of arrangements.