Richard Edward Sampson

Lt. Col. (ret.) Richard E. Sampson of Hopewell, Virginia passed away on
Sunday, September 20, 2020, aged 85. "Dick" was a loving father,
grandfather and devoted husband. Dick was Born August 13, 1935, in
upstate New York. He had dedicated his life to the service of his
country and community. A trained mathematician and chemist, graduating
from Upsala College in 1957, he served his career in the military and in
the civil service with distinction as a logistician and in the
Chemical Corps including a tour in Vietnam in 1970-1971. Awards for his
service included: Bronze Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal (twice). He also received the Good Conduct Medal (enlisted), and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He retired from the army on August 13,1995.
His sense of service lead him to a long running position in the 1980s
and 1990s on the Hopewell Planning Commission, representing Hopewell's
interests during the planning of the I-295 bypass, the Jackson Farm Road
widening, and the River Road modernization.
Dick was a passionate stamp collector, including writing a long running
newspaper column in the 1980s in the Hopewell News, "Sampson on Stamps"
and hosting a short radio and TV program on WHAP. He later turned his
passion for collecting to genealogy, collecting the stories of people by
publishing several books on the histories and personal stories of his
wife's extended family in the mountains of Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margret Elanor Burgess Sampson
“Margie” (October 31, 1933 to October 1, 2010) who he married May 31,
1958, and was together with for 52 years, and a grandson, Richard. He is
survived by his sister, Janet Beckers and her children, Paulette Beckers
and Edward Beckers of Bay City, Michigan, his son, Eric, and his wife
Rose Sampson of Highland Springs, Virginia, and his son, Oliver, and his
wife Margo Sampson and a grandson, Charles of Immenstaad, Germany.
A service will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020 at 11 am. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Please feel free to share your favorite memories or condolences on www.jtmorriss.com .