Wilmer Louis Sampson

Wilmer Louis Sampson, the son of William Sylvester Sampson and Stella Lorraine Barton [note 1], was born in Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma on May 1, 1915 and died September 25, 1998 in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri. Wilmer was the grand-son of early 1900 Creek County settlers George Henry and Mary Belle (Jeffries) Sampson [note 2] and James Berry and Sarilda Jane "Sarah" (Abbott) Barton [note 3].

Wilmer was married to Mary Lucille Pendleton, daughter of Arthur Oris and Pearlie May (Cheshier) Pendleton [note 4], on January 4, 1937 at Delano, Kern County, California.

Wilmer grew up in and around Depew. He was fond of sports and seemed to excel at whatever he tried. He especially was proud of his skills at football. He played both quarterback and kicker and played on the last five-man football team in Oklahoma schools. Much of his clothing was made by his grandmother, Mary Belle. Other items of clothing that were not "home made" were purchased by his grandfather, George Henry. George Henry was a rather frugal individual, so he only bought the cheapest. Wilmer always credited his "kicking" ability to the square toes on those cheap shoes. One of the family stories is that the son of the local banker in Depew wanted to improve his kicking ability. So Wilmer and the "banker's son" traded shoes. Of course, Wilmer got the better of the deal as the shoes he got were $10 a pair shoes as opposed to $2 dollars. However, the same evening the banker and his son appeared to undo the trade and to retrieve the shoes. Eventually, the cheap shoes wore out and when he went to his grandfather told him that he wasn't going back to school until he got a new shoes. George Henry told him that if he needed new shoes perhaps he should get a job. He did. Wilmer dropped out of school and started working at various farm-related jobs. He mostly worked for "Charlie" Turner and Clyde Thompson, two local farmers. It was while working at Charlie's that Wilmer met his future wife, Mary. 

During his working career he was employed in farming, carpentry, general construction and steel fabrication. At the beginning of World War II, Wilmer was working in the construction industry in California. However, in 1942 he returned to Oklahoma to work for Nelson Electric, Inc. in Tulsa, which was involved in the manufacture and production of war critical materials for the U.S. Navy. In 1951 he became the Supervising Foreman for Loveless Manufacturing, Inc. in Tulsa, a manufacturer of oil exploration and petroleum production equipment. In 1976 he retired to a farm near Depew, Oklahoma. In 1993, he sold the farm and moved to Mexico, Missouri.

He was an exceptional and generous man, giving freely of his heart, his mind and his labor. He held fast to those values that may have made him seem old fashioned, his word was his bond, moral and honest, a good friend to everyone. He liked everyone he met and was loved by those who knew him. His greatest monument - his "good name." He is greatly missed.

Wilmer is survived by his spouse, Mary Lucille Sampson, and his son, Wayne Milton Sampson, of Mexico, Missouri. 

Also surviving, his brother William Charles Sampson and wife, Eleanor, of Bennett Springs, Missouri; and sisters Mrs. Bert Alexander (Lorrene Mae) Brown of Gridley, California; Mrs. Sidney (JoyLee) Humphries and Mrs. Harold Wayne (Ruth) Weaver of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Mrs. Ray Eugene (Verdi) Byrd of Palermo, California; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs. John Walter (Alice Juanita) Mahon of Bristow, Oklahoma and Mrs. Gary (Eula Faye) Gragg of Choteau, Oklahoma.

---

note 1. William Sylvester Sampson was born 07 November 1890 in Paddy Creek, near Roby, Texas County, Missouri and died 26 April 1923 in Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma. He married Stella Lorraine "Raney" Barton 30 August 1913 in Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma, daughter of James Berry Barton and Sarilda Jane "Sarah" Abbott. Stella was born 11 March 1896 in Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri. [NOTE: Stella Lorraine Barton was married three times, first, William Sylvester Sampson, second, David Archibald Stroud, third, Joel Franklin Barnes.]

Burial: 
William Sylvester Sampson, 28 April 1923, Bristow Memorial Cemetery
Stella Lorraine Barnes, Magnolia Cemetery, Bristow, Oklahoma

note 2. George Henry Sampson was born 8 November 1868 in Brumley, Miller County, Missouri and died 20 January 1942 in Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma. He married Mary Belle Jeffries 21 December 1889 in Brumley, Miller County, Missouri, daughter of Robert Kirkpatrick Jeffries and Purnecia Hinton McCubbin. Mary Belle was born 20 December 1871 in Auglaize Twp., Miller County, Missouri and died 12 June 1933 in Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma.

Burial: 
George Henry Sampson, Oakdale Cemetery, Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma.
Mary Bell Sampson, Oakdale Cemetery, Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma.

note 3. James Berry Barton was born 19 January 1862 in Miller County, Missouri, and died 11 December 1946 in Maricopa County, Arizona. He married Sarilda Jane "Sarah" Abbott 27 May 1886 in Osage Twp, Miller County, Missouri, daughter of Daniel Abbott and Elvira Roark. Sarilda Jane was born 8 August 1866 in Miller County, Missouri and died 26 April 1925 in Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma.

Burial: 
James Berry Barton, Tolleson, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Sarilda Jane Barton, Bristow Memorial Cemetery, Bristow, Creek County, 
Oklahoma

Note 4 Arthur Oris Pendleton was born 21 April 1894 in Cassville, Barry County, Missouri and died 24 February 1974 in Susanville, Lassen County, California. He married Pearlie Mae Cheshier 13 October 1914 in Grant, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, daughter of Richard Washington Cheshier and Vernetta Belford. Pearlie Mae was born 13 April 1898 in Jackson County, Arkansas and died 12 December 1929 in Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma.

Burial: 
Arthur Oris Pendleton, Janesville Cemetery, Janesville, Lassen County, 
California
Pearlie Mae Pendleton, Oakdale Cemetery, Depew, Creek County, Oklahoma

Submitted Nov 2002 by Wayne M. Sampson; 916 South Olive Street; Mexico, MO 65265. wayne@morrisnet.net