Hugh Samson

Hugh Samson, 92, of Mentor, died on January 4, 2023, at Promedica of Mentor with his son, Mark, telling him he did a good job and his pastor prayerfully comforting him in his final hour. He was born on December 18, 1930, in Rayne Township near Ernest, Pennsylvania, to the late Robert and Janet (nee Dunlop) Samson. Everyone loved dear Hugh, especially Eileen. “Hughie’s the best thing that ever happened to me!” Eileen said, “Hughie and I did pretty darn good for ourselves!” After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Hugh moved to Cleveland to work in the factory at the GM Fisher Body Plant with his good friend, Lou Brochetti. Back then, Lou said Hughie’s idea of “gourmet” was putting mustard on his baloney sandwich. He was a kind, fun athlete, sports fan and great cook. His job skills grew when his son, Mark, taught him to type, and Hugh became a purchasing agent and clerk. He also became quite the magician in the kitchen, crafting a heart-shaped cake out of two rounds for Mark and Barbara’s first anniversary and pulling a rabbit out of geometric pans for an Easter Bunny cake for the grandkids. Along with Eileen’s “Chicken and Rice”, Hughie’s marinated tenderloin with grilled cubed potatoes are family favorites. Speaking of favorites, Hughie loved the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, and the Cleveland Indians. Hugh played on his high school’s basketball team, sang in the boy's chorus, and was in the “Varsity ‘S’” Club. More notably, he played second base on the first WPIAL championship team from Shannock Valley High School (western PA) with catcher, Ron Shoop, who became a Detroit Tiger catcher! One of his son, Jim’s, favorite memories is the first time his father took him to an Indians game. It was an inter-league/exhibition game versus the Pirates! Hugh also took his nephew, Danny, to his first Indians game and treated him to a delicious baloney with ketchup and black pepper sandwich. Hugh, who scored multiple holes-in-one, loved traveling and golfing with friends on leagues. His sons and grandchildren have fond memories of golfing with him. He signed up and drove his grandson, Bobby, to Blackbrook’s junior golf league. He enjoyed watching his sons and grandchildren play, softball, baseball, football and, especially, Erin play basketball. TV game shows and Sunday Fundays at Anderson’s Bar with Daniel and out-for-a-drink with his sons, grandkids, nieces and nephews were good times. He loved his grandkids so much that he got a dog, Snooper, for Erin, Bob and baby Daniel! Hughie’d ask about his grandchildren’s friends but mispronounced their names. The kids enjoyed the assorted greeting cards Grandpa picked. One Christmas Eve, wry Bob asked, “Oh, we’re Jewish now?!” as he opened a Hanukkah card and heard Eileen exclaim, “Hyouuweee!” Hughie, the youngest of eight born from 1910-1930, grew up in Yatesboro, PA. His father, Robert Samson, a foreman putting in long and strenuous hours for the R and P Coal Company, died when Hughie was only twelve. Hughie looked up to his older siblings and was very proud of his brother, George, an Air Force pilot. “My brother was the first one to fly the Enola Gay out of the factory!” Hughie, the last surviving sibling, was preceded in death by Eileen (nee Bailey), his dear wife for 65 years; his parents: Robert and Janet (nee Dunlop); siblings: Robert (Helen), Isabella (Harold) McKelvey, Mary (Irving/”Pete”) Luthi, George (Madeline/ “Mickie”), Harry (Evelyn), Agnes (Michael) Serbin, and Jean (George) Parks. Jean introduced Hugh to Eileen and was Matron-of –Honor at their wedding. Hugh’s brothers-in-law, James and Robert Bailey and sister-in-law, Charlotte (Luther) Doby, are deceased. Surviving the well-loved Hugh are his sons: Mark (Barbara) and James; grandchildren: Erin (Matthew) Barney, Robert (Kristen), Daniel (Zoë Musgrave); great-grandchildren: Colin Hugh Samson and Hugh William Barney; sister-in-law, Elisabeth Bailey; “adopted daughter” Redda Latona; and numerous dear nieces and nephews who loved his Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas Eve celebrations, and Samson Family Reunions. Hugh was “over the moon” about both of his great-grandsons being named in honor of him! A memorial service, officiated by Pastor Barb Holzhauser, will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Mentor Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Send flowers and offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Hugh Samson

December 18, 1930 - January 4, 2023