Sam Southerland

Sam Southerland, 86, passed away on the morning of Friday, January 31, 2025, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on October 8, 1938, in Knoxville, Tennessee, a son of the late James Henry and Vinnie Jane (Sexton) Southerland. Sam attended Cadiz High School and married his high school sweetheart, Rita Harry, on August 21, 1957. He was easygoing and pleasant by nature. Sam had a great sense of humor and would laugh until he couldn’t breathe. He worked at Chrysler Corporation for 32 years, retiring in May 1997. Sam and his wife attended Park Place Free Methodist Church over the years and, more recently, Whittier Lane Baptist Church. Sam loved sports, played baseball and basketball in high school, and bowled in church leagues over the years. He enjoyed carpentry work and helping his family build and remodel. For the past 21 years, Sam and Rita enjoyed wintering in Lake Placid, Florida. Those left to cherish Sam’s memory include his wife of 67 years, Rita Southerland; two sons, Jody (Chris) Southerland and Jim (Teresa) Southerland, both of New Castle, and a daughter, Kathy (Mark) Colgan of Muncie; his grandchildren, Ryan, Jeremy, and Brock (Chelsea) Southerland, Lindsey (Beau) Tipton, David Colgan, Katie (Karl) Winters, Adam (Sara) Hollars, Danielle (David) Houser, and Cara (Matt) Huffman; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Parker, Laci, and Gavyn Southerland, Kaylee, and Kayden Tipton, Mark, Ellie, Abby, and Lucy Winters, Addison and Brance Southerland, Jackson and Nova Hollars, Ava Houser, Braedon, Cain, and Bane Huffman, and many special nieces and nephews, including Mary Vitatoe. In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by a brother, James Franklin Southerland, and a sister, Eula Jean Graham. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Sproles Family Funeral Home with Pastor Danny Douglas officiating. Burial will follow in Hedricksburg Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the funeral home on Wednesday. Memorial Contributions may be offered to the Autism Society at www.autismsociety.org/donate. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. The Sproles family and staff are honored to serve the family of Sam Southerland.

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Sam Southerland

October 8, 1938 - January 31, 2025