Samuel Langley Dale Iii

Sam (Langley) was born 12/02/41 in Pittsburg, TX to Samuel Langley Dale Jr. and Dora Mae White Dale. Sam was the eldest with four brothers and two sisters. The family raised their own vegetables and livestock. Sam attended Daingerfield TX schools and played football as a Daingerfield Tiger, #77, earning the nickname “Thunderfoot”. He worked at LaTourneau Steel before and after serving four years in the US Navy. In the Navy he was stationed at Key West, Florida and trained as an aircraft electrician.

Sam attended Texarkana College, working towards an agriculture teaching degree. At TC he met his future wife at the Halloween Slop Hop Dance. He and JoAnn Hutcheson were married on 06/22/1968, then moved to Commerce, TX. At this time JoAnn attended classes at ETSU and Sam worked at LTV Electro Systems in Greenville. In 1970 they moved to Texarkana TX where he worked at Wadley Hospital and obtained his Associate of Science in Nursing in 1973 from the William Buchanan School of Nursing. Sam then worked as an RN at Fort Roots VA Hospital in North Little Rock, AR for 28 years.

Sam became a father to two daughters, Mischa Diane born 03/28/71 and Kira Lanette born 09/16/81. He was privileged to see both daughters earn Bachelors and Masters degrees. Sam was very proud of his three grandchildren: Liam James Garrison, Livier Annaliese Ward and Elora Ruth Suttee. He was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. He loved to watch any and all westerns and sci-fi/space movies. His favorites were The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, and any movies featuring John Wayne. Sam read his Bible, Time magazine, National Geographic, and the Sunday newspaper. He was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church of Texarkana TX.

Sam was preceded in death by both parents and a brother, Thad Dale. His surviving siblings are Tony W. Dale of Tatum, Joe W. Dale of Tatum, J. Gene Dale of McKinney, Anna Hudson of Dallas, and Dora Richardson of Texarkana.