Submitted by: Dan Rich

Maxine Y. Sampson

Sept. 2, 1921 - Nov. 10, 2007

South Bend Tribune 11/14/2007
SOUTH BEND - Maxine Y. Sampson, 86, residing in South Bend, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, November 10, 2007. She was born September 2, 1921, in Holdrege, Nebraska, to James William and Bernice (Copeland) Young, and had lived in South Bend since 1950.

On June 15, 1946, in Fort Wayne, IN, she was united in marriage to Robert L. Sampson, who preceded her in death on December 25, 1985. She was also preceded in death by a stepbrother, Ronald Schmitz. Maxine is survived by three children, Paula Sampson of Muncie, IN, Gayle Sampson of South Bend, Ralph and Ingrid (Bloch) Sampson of Marshall, MI; a stepsister, Betty Henselmeier of Spencer, IN; and a stepbrother, Allen Schmitz of Fort Wayne, IN.

Mrs. Sampson earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Manchester College in 1942. She retired from the South Bend Community School Corp. in 1984 having taught at Jefferson and Lincoln Elementary Schools. She enjoyed music, performing in the South Bend Symphonic Choir and Crest Manor Church of the Brethren choir. She volunteered as a director at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, IN. She coordinated local UNICEF card sales in South Bend. She organized and directed a children's bell choir at Crest Manor Church for 21 years. She was also a member and past president of the School Men's Wives Association and United Nations of St. Joseph County. Maxine enjoyed travel, and remained active her entire life. She consciously promoted health and education for children, peace-making and ecological living.

The family received friends on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m., and will also receive friends today from noon to 1 p.m. in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, and a memorial service celebrating the life of Maxine Sampson will follow at 3 p.m. today at Crest Manor Church of the Brethren, 1343 Berkshire Drive, South Bend. Rev. Robert Miller will officiate. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Sampson may be made to Crest Manor Church of the Brethren, to Camp Alexander Mack, Milford, IN, or to Manchester College, North Manchester, IN.