Theodore Sampson

Theodore Sampson "Ted" born October 5, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, passed-away at his home in Flossmoor, Illinois, on December 19, 2020 in the presence of family.  He was 84.   Ted was the son of a railroad executive and as a child visited every State in the Union, often by train.   Throughout his childhood, Ted spent summers at his grandmother's ranch near Phillipsburg, Montana herding cattle and trout fishing. Ted attended Thornton High School in Thornton, Illinois and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois after which he served in the Marine Corps stationed in San Diego, California.   Returning from service, Ted married the love of his life, Virginia Carter Willis "Ginny" on June 23, 1962.  Ted and Ginny raised five loving children Susan (David) Riefe, Katherine (Charles) Schultz, Theodore (Lisa) Sampson, John Paul (Amy) Sampson and Daniel Sampson and eleven loving grandchildren Grace and Caroline Riefe; Brian, Paul (Kate), Abby and Carter Schultz; Charlotte and Maddy Sampson; Luke, Aria and Farrah Sampson. Also left to honor Ted's memory is his sister, Sandy Gobert, Carterville, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews. Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Rexford Sampson and Katharin Hoben Sampson.

Ted and Ginny have been side by side for 58 years in love and marriage.  Ted was actively involved in each of his children's and grandchildren's lives as a role model, a coach, a hero, and a friend.  Ted had a quick sense of humor and a remarkable ability to remember and retell humorous tiny details about each of his children's and grandchildren's childhood.  Ted loved his wife and family and prioritized his family and friends over his career and himself.   Ted worked at Republic Steel and Accurate Partitions as a salesman.  He started his own company, Ted Sampson & Associates selling building specialties.  When Ted "retired" from his business he became part of a management team for various construction companies, renovating several Chicago Transit Authority "L" stations around the City.   Ted gave back to the community as a volunteer fireman for the Matteson Fire Department, commissioner and coach for Flossmoor Baseball and a volunteer at the South Suburban PADS.  In his later years, Ted enjoyed the

hobby of beekeeping.  Through research and his passion for beekeeping, Ted thoroughly enjoyed sharing his "Poppy's Fresh Honey" with his family and friends.

The family is planning a memorial service next summer for family and friends to honor Ted's kind, loving and humor-filled life.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Yellow Ribbon Fund or Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve.