William Sampson

William Arvalee Sampson of Cambridge passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at The Envoy Nursing Home in Denton, Maryland. He was born on March 23, 1929, son of the late John West Sr. and Tressie Slacum Sampson.

As a child he attend Sunday school and worship service at Waugh United Methodist Church where he later became a member.

William attended the public schools of Dorchester County and graduated in June of 1946 from Frederick Douglas St Clair High School.

In July of 1947 he enlisted in the united States Army and was honorably discharged as Corporal from Fort Bliss, Texas on July 17, 1950.

After working at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore and locally for Allan Tyler Construction, he retired from the E.I Dupont Company in Seaford, Delaware with 30 years of service.

William became member of the Prince Hall Lodge#50 in 1970 and was a Past Master and later became an Assistant Grand Lecturer of The Seventh District. He was a Past Patron of Oziel Chapter #23 OES-PHA.

He also had lifetime membership in Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #5118 Easton. William was a self-made carpenter and took pride in everything he built or created . If at first the results were not what he desired, he would not give up until it was just right. His philosophy was, ''Be the Best of Whatever You Are."

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley- but be The best little scrub by the side of the rill: Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass, And some highway happier make; If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass---But the liveliest bass in the lake! We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew, There's something for all of us here; There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do, And the task you must do is the near. If you can't be a highway then just be trail, If you can't be the sun be a star; It isn't by size that you win or you fail- Be the best of whatever you are!

William leaves to cherish his wife of 51 years, Pensacola Camper Johnson Sampson. He is also survived by three children that he reared as his own: Herschel Johnson of Cambridge Dickerson of Owings Mills, Maryland and Ernest Clevon Johnson of Paladin, Georgia, Six grand children , nineteen great grand grandchildren and three great a�"great grandchildren;, two brothers, John West, Jr. (Roberta) Calvin Sampson , three sisters, Elaine Stafford, Ella Mae Cornish and Barbara Cummings, sister in law ,Geneva Wongus and Betty Sampson a host of nieces, nephews relatives and friends In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, Leon and Alexander Wongus, Garfield, Joe Louis, Andrew, Benjamin and Ronald Sampson and a grandson, Mathias Larnell Johnson. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2011 11am at Waugh Chapel UM Church Cambridge with a viewing Wednesday evening 6-8pm at the church. Interment Friday 10am at the Veteran's Cemetery Hurlock, MD. In lieu of flowers monetary donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association and the American Cancer Society.