Burial Date
Obituaries » DOUGLAS A. SAMPLE
SAMPLE, DOUGLAS ARNOLD, 75, of Williamstown, passed on peacefully at Central Vermont Medical Center, April 4, surrounded by family and friends. Born Jan. 28, 1939, he was the son of William Everest and Harriett (Emery) Sample. Doug attended grades one through eight in Williamstown. It was a one-room schoolhouse where his oldest sister (Madeline, who is still living) was his teacher. He obtained his GED through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he served from 1956-1962 as a weapons mechanic. He was married to Shirley Blake; they later divorced. He worked many years as a carpenter, most recently for Don-Vac Inc., until retirement. Doug loved hunting, fishing, going to camp, playing cribbage, doing tricks with Daisy, and helping out at the farm. A member of the Williamstown Fire Department for 36 years, he retired as an assistant chief. Doug always bragged that the Williamstown Fire Department was the best small-town department in the area. He watched different phases of the new building being constructed and was very proud of the final results. Survivors include his daughter, Cathy Jo Johnson and husband, Calvin, of Chelsea; a son, Eric Douglas, of Mesa, Ariz.; and two grandchildren. Also surviving are his sisters and brothers Madeline Joyal, of Melbourne, Fla., Ruth Beaton and Kay Erff, both of Williamstown, Harriett LeClair, of Barre Town, Richard Sample and wife, Maggie, of Williamstown, George Sample, of Palm Bay, Fla., along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, James Sample and William “Bob” Sample Jr., and sister Shirley Bernier.
