Robert Samples

Robert Franklin Samples died on Sunday, July 21, 2024, from bladder cancer at the age of 87. Bob was born on April 1, 1937, as the middle son of Pauline Franklin and Wheeler Dewey Samples, Sr. The parents died young, and the three boys were separated at the death of their mother when Bob was only 14 years old. He lived with various foster families until his Sunday School teacher, Martin Hunt, introduced him to Mrs. J. Hannon Schoolfield. He lived with her and her disabled daughter, Marion, for 10 years---leaving only on September 7, 1968, when he married Diana Rowland Carter. They have been married for 56 years. Bob had an outstanding singing voice with perfect pitch. He began singing in the Adult Choir of First Presbyterian Church on his 5th birthday before he could read. So the Choir Director made the phonetic sounds under the musical notes. He retired from this same choir on his 78th birthday—making 73 years of continuous singing in the choir! He also served as a Deacon, Elder, Officer, and Treasurer of First Presbyterian Church. Bob attended Maryville College for two years majoring in Pre-Med, then joined the Air Force National Guard for four years, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in Marketing and Retailing in 1963. He joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity where he served as Treasurer during college and then President of the Alumni Association. Bob was just awarded “The Order Of The Lion,” the highest honor from the National Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He served on the University of Tennessee State Public Affairs Committee and was a founding member of the University of Tennessee Presidents Club. Bob was invited to join The Cotillion Club, the second oldest men’s social club in the South, and served as its President and permanent Historian. He was a member of Cherokee Country Club, and an acknowledged First Families of Tennessee member. Bob enjoyed three very different careers in his life. First in the Management Leadership Program at Standard Knitting Mills. He then became the Executive Director of the East Tennessee Heart Association for 20 years, which came close to his dream of following his maternal Grandfather into the medical profession. Then he joined his wife’s family’s real estate company, John P. Carter Co., Inc., for another 20 years. Always active in the Community, Bob served as Board Member, Officer, or President of Dale Avenue Settlement House, Knox County Health Council, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Knox Heritage. He joined his wife, Diana, in the 3 ½ year adventure of cleaning out and preserving of the contents of her Lutz Great-Grandparents’s 1890 home, “Historic Westwood,” which is also his Franklin family home. They recently were voted Knox Heritage’s 2024 Volunteers of the Year. He and his wife, Diana, were proud to be among the founders of The Community School Of The Arts in Knoxville and The Episcopal School of Knoxville. Bob served as President of two Rotary Clubs in Knoxville which is a rarity. First as President of North Knoxville Rotary Club (while with the Heart Association) and later as President of The Rotary Club of Knoxville (while with John P. Carter Co., Inc. and later in his retirement.) He was a Paul Harris Fellow and was proud of his 100% attendance record through his 40 plus years of Rotary membership. Bob is predeceased by his parents, his older brother, Wheeler Dewey Samples, Jr., and his younger brother, John Keener Samples who was adopted at the age of 12 and took the name of George Keener Waters. He is survived by his wife, Diana Rowland Carter Samples, his niece Jennifer Samples-Sharp and her husband, Tom Sharp, of Knoxville, other nieces and a nephew. Bob and Diana had no children of their own, but friends shared their children with them, and Bob is survived by very treasured Godchildren—both “official” by the Church and “official” by his heart. Services will be on Saturday, August 10th at 2:30pm at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 413 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville. Reception to follow at his family’s home, “Historic Westwood,” 3425 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorials may be made to The Community School Of The Arts, PO Box 1303, Knoxville 37901; or The Episcopal School of Knoxville, 950 Episcopal School Way, Knoxville 37922; or St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 413 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville 37902. Online condolences may be made at www.rosefuneraltn.com

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Robert Samples

April 1, 1937 - July 21, 2024