- Date Of Birth: May 15, 1931
- Date Of Death: June 3, 2013
- State: Oklahoma
William P. “Bill” Sampson, 82, of Norman, passed away June 3, 2013. Bill was born May 15, 1931 in Akron, Ohio to John and Nellie Olive (Plummer) Sampson. His parents had emigrated through Ellis Island and Bill was fiercely proud of his Cornish heritage.
He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for almost 30 years as an air traffic controller, attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He was dedicated to his profession, and the people he worked with and led. He was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Viet Nam.
Bill loved bird dogs, either hunting behind them or just walking the fields to watch them work. He had an innate intelligence for the way things worked, and could fix just about anything. He was a voracious reader, and many diverse subjects stirred his interest. Bill grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area but was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. His other sports favorites were the Dallas Cowboys and The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Family was most important to Bill, both local, and spread across the country. His undying love for his wife Marty of forty-six years was always evident, and served as an example to his children. He felt blessed by three lovely grandchildren, and felt pride in their
accomplishments, and in the fine adults they have become.
He loved helping others in his neighborhood, and his friendliness, optimism, and consistently positive attitude will be greatly missed by all those who were blessed to have known and loved him.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Martha Ann Sampson; and sister Joan Bower. He is survived by his son William J. Sampson and wife Sue of Sherwood, Oregon; daughter Leslie Bumgarner and husband Mike of Norman; brother John
Sampson of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; grandchildren John Sampson of New York City, Kendall Bumgarner of Norman, Edward Sampson of Newport, North Carolina; niece and nephews Alana Morgan, Mark Bower, and Scott Sampson; as well as a host of other loving family and friends.
