Gene Sample

C. E. "Gene" Sample, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at The Lutheran Home.

He was born Feb. 12, 1926 in Sedgewickville, Mo., to William R. and Reva G. Niswonger Sample.

He married Ruth M. Kasten on Oct. 17, 1948, in Pocahontas.

Gene was a graduate of Patton High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy and in the invasion of southern France. He was in the Naval Reserve for five years.

Mr. Sample worked for Hutson Furniture Co. for 42 years as a salesman and buyer, retiring in 1997. During his retirement years he enjoyed driving cars for many car dealerships in Cape Girardeau.

Some of Gene's greatest times in his life included taking his family on vacations. One of the best vacations was seeing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and VFW Post 3838.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth M. Sample of Cape Girardeau; daughters, Susan (Fred) Vinceland and Nancy (Marty) Niswonger, both of Cape Girardeau; grandchildren, Amber (Tim) Horrell, Crystal (Aaron) Williams and Andrea (Justin) Savat; great-grandchildren, Owen, Luke and Carolina Horrell, Laikyn Williams, Hunter Welker and Roman Savat; brothers, Roger (Maria) Sample of Charleston, S.C., and Jim (Nancy) Koetting of Fulton, Mo.; sisters, Marjorie Swan of Pocahontas and Shirley Young of Scott City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, George Sample; and a son-in-law, Boyd Morton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Nathan Burgell officiating.

Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors by the Missouri Honors Team.

Memorial contributions may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.