Samuel W. Stockton

Samuel W. Stockton, age 97, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at Golden Heights in Garnett. Sam was born on September 18, 1912, at Mirabel, Missouri the son of Wilbur Eugene "Gene" and Ola (Andrews) Stockton. Sam grew up in Paola, Fort Scott and Garnett. His family moved to Garnett in 1921. He was united in marriage to Ruth Van Horn on August 8, 1931, at Lawrence, Kansas. This union was blessed with one son. During World War II he worked at the North American Bomber Plant in Kansas City and then later in the Navy ship yard in Bremerton, Washington. Following the war he moved to Kansas City where he had a milk route for Alvine Dairy. In 1947 they returned to Garnett and he went to work for Wayne Lacy in his furniture store. In 1952 Sam and Reginald Sutton purchased W.O. Lacy Furniture Store and named it Stockton and Sutton Furniture. Reginald passed away in 1965 and the business became Stockton Furniture. Sam retired from the business in 1977. Sam enjoyed hunting and fishing and his trips to Las Vegas, but his greatest joys were his family and their activities. Sam was an avid Atlanta Braves baseball fan. He tried to make as many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren's games and events as he could. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth Stockton on February 15, 1985; two sisters, Lena Cramer and Hilda Thompson; and two brothers, Hugh Stockton and Donald Stockton. Sam is survived by his son, Don Stockton and wife Sandy of Garnett, Kansas; granddaughter Amy Miller and husband Rob of Leavenworth, Kansas; grandson Mike Stockton and wife Cindy of Liberty, Missouri; and four grandchildren, Sam and Grace Miller, and Synjin and Sadie Stockton. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Garnett Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Garnett American Legion Baseball.