Eileen E. Samson

April 4, 1934 - October 12, 2020

Eileen E. Samson, age 86, of Mentor, died Monday October 12, 2020, at Danbury Senior Living, Mentor. She was born April 4, 1934, in New Kensington, PA. Mrs. Samson was a retired Lab Technician who tested the adhesive at Avery Dennison for quality control. Eileen and Hugh were well respected and loved by family, friends and peers. Coming from humble beginnings in coal mining towns in Pennsylvania, Eileen and Hughie were proud of their two sons’ college educations. In Eileen’s words, “We did pretty darn good for ourselves!” Eileen, a loving grandmother to not only her own grandchildren, but also to their cousins and friends, was so much more than “typical”. She bellied up to her kitchen counter with her young grandchildren for Christmas Eve shots, filled their stockings with annual proof sets and “scratch-and-lose” lottery tickets. At age 82, even though on top at the Final Four, she was sure she wouldn’t win, Eileen bested 120 entries to win her grand-daughter’s March Madness college basketball pool and went on a shopping spree with, Barbara (her daughter-in-law) and her niece, Kathe. Eileen enjoyed golfing, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, yard work, time spent with family, friends, and, especially, frequent phone calls from her nieces and nephews. She was an avid Cleveland Indians, Browns, Cavs and college football and basketball fan. A past president of her women’s league at Blackbrook Golf Course, she was a former member of Advent Lutheran Church and Mentor United Methodist Church. “Marrying Hughie was the best thing that ever happened to me!” Survivors include Hugh Samson, her husband of 64 years; sons, Mark (Barbara) Samson, James Samson; grandchildren Erin (Matt) Samson Barney, Robert (Kristen) Samson, Daniel (Hannah Shaefer) Samson; great-grandson, Colin; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Bailey; and numerous loving nieces, nephews and cherished friends. Preceding Eileen in death are her infant son, John Samson; parents, James and Elizabeth Bailey; siblings, Charlotte (Luther) Doby, James and Robert Bailey. A private family service will be held at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor. A private family inurnment will be at Mentor Cemetery, Mentor. The family suggests contributions may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/_transactionServerFiles/700/2012/1/18/OnlineDonationForm.pdf and fill out donation form, make your check payable to Wounded Warrior Project® and mail to: Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758516, Topeka, KS 66675