Samuel Franklin Booker, 94, passed on to be with the Lord, on April 27, 2018, in Pierre, SD, where he had lived for seven years.

Sam was born May 21, 1923 to Rosa (DeBord) and Samuel Pleasant Booker in Princeton, IN. He graduated from Princeton High School in 1941 and attended Lockyear Business College in Evansville, IN.

Sam married Geneva Mae Hopkins of Francisco, IN, on July 25, 1942, and they have two children, Patricia Ann and David William. Sam and Geneva were married 66 years and were members of the Broadway Christian Church, Princeton, IN.

Sam joined the U.S. Army the same year he and Geneva were married. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, near Tacoma. Sam had three brothers, James, Loren and Charles, who all served in World War II at the same time. Sam served in medical detachment with the 735th Tank Battalion of the 26th Infantry under General Patton. Being newly married and missing Sam, Geneva took her first train ride and moved to Washington State to be with Sam before he shipped overseas to fight in France and Germany. Geneva worked at the Boeing plant as a “Rosie the Riveter.” In 1945 Sam was awarded five battle stars and the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action near Shalla, Germany where Sam crossed 200 yards of open fire to carry seriously injured comrades to safety.

After the war Sam worked as the store manager at the Princeton Coal Mining Company, as a salesman for Shappley Hardware Company and in 1957 Sam joined Potter and Brumfield in Princeton, Indiana as a sales correspondent. At P&B Sam had numerous promotions and awards and in 1970 he was promoted to Western Regional Sales Manager and moved to San Juan Capistrano, CA. Sam and Geneva moved back to Princeton in 1985, and Sam retired from P&B in 1986. He was an active member of the Lions Club, Elks and VFW.

Sam was a follower of Jesus, a devoted husband, a great Dad, grandpa and great grandpa, a loving son, giving brother and friend to everyone he met and worked with. Sam cared for Geneva through her struggles with Alzheimer’s disease until she passed in 2008. He moved to Pierre, SD, in 2011 to be with his daughter and her family. He enjoyed the last three years of his life at Edgewood Senior Living Center in Pierre. Sam never forgot his roots. He was a fervent Hoosier fan and followed Indiana University basketball religiously. He could always quote the players and team’s statistics.

Sam is survived by his daughter, Patty Pearson (Rodger) of Pierre, SD, and son, David William (Lil) of Helenville, WI., and grandchildren, Kesiah (Gary) Frederick of Pierre, SD, Bruce Samuel (Jill) of Crooks, SD, Lacey (Patrick) Tauscher of Elkhorn, WI, April (Mark) Madsen of Elkhorn, WI, Jasmine Booker of Columbia Falls, MT, and 16 great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. John Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at Forsythe Cemetery in Oakland City, IN. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Military graveside rites by Retired Military Veterans.

Sam will be dearly missed by his family and friends but his family is comforted in knowing that he is in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ and reunited with Geneva, his Dad, Mom, brothers and many friends who were waiting with open arms for him.