Oren Dubois “Sam” Samuels, Jr. was born on August 30, 1929, the eldest of three children who grew up in Richmond, IN. His father was a welder, an Army veteran, and served as a Navy “SeaBee” during WWII. His mother worked in a casket factory during peacetime and in a piston ring factory during the war.

Sam graduated high school in three years so that he could serve in WWII before it ended. The war was over when he graduated in 1946, but he is officially counted as a WWII veteran. He served three years as a US Marine and then attended Purdue University earning a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Sam married Rose Ann DeRegnaucourt on June 20, 1953. His first job after college was at a Bendix facility in Hamilton, OH. Sam and Rose Ann were blessed with daughters Lucinda and Holly while living in Hamilton. He then worked for Pan Am as a NASA contractor at Cape Canaveral throughout the Mercury and Gemini programs. Next, he worked at the Defense Electronics Supply Center (DESC) in Dayton, where son, Gordon, joined the young family. Sam served as a government quality rep at a Lockheed facility at Dobbins AFB for two years. Then in 1969, Sam settled into the role of Chief of Quality Assurance for the AF Logistics Command at WPAFB where he remained until retiring in 1988.

Family was always Sam’s top priority. He also enjoyed painting, drawing, and listening to music, especially Guy Lombardo and Glen Miller. He and Rose Ann are well known for forming friendships that last a lifetime.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Oren and Lucille Samuels, brother Gordon Samuels, and sister June Carter. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Rose Ann, children Lucinda (Charles) Luzar, Holly (Christopher) Jones, and Gordon (Jennifer) Samuels, grandchildren Kalena (Andrew) Conner, Dean (Jackie) Samuels, Shelby (Carlos Paredes) Jones, Drew Samuels, Travis Jones, Drake (Tori) Dunham, and Dylan Samuels, great-grandchildren Mia Paredes, Calvin Samuels, and Bailey Conner, brother-in-law Robert DeRegnaucourt, sister-in-law Ethel Hadler, and numerous nieces and nephews (mostly nephews!).

Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday, July 19, 2026 from 4-7pm in the WESTBROCK FUNERAL HOME- DAYTON, 1712 Wayne Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his honor by Fr. Angelo Anthony on Monday at 10:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 411 E. 2nd St., Dayton. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday at Noon at Oak Forest Cemetery, 16194 St Mary Rd, Butler Township, IN 47012.

Donations in Sam’s honor may be offered to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton.