Mr. Robert H. “Poppie” Samuels, age 84 of Beebe, AR, retired Director of Printing at the University of Mississippi, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at Arkansas Hospice Hospital in Little Rock, AR. The funeral service will be Monday, December 27, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Andrews United Methodist Church of Oxford with Rev. John Kramer officiating. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, December 27^th from 9:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the church. A memorial service will be held at a later date at First United Methodist Church of Beebe, AR. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born October 8, 1926 to parents, Roy Hestal Samuels and Edith Carlene Moore Samuels, he grew up in Water Valley, MS, the third of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Carlene; brother, Kenneth Melroy “Snow” Samuels; sister, Geneva Lee “Sis” Ison; brother, Wayman Carl “Freck” Samuels and brother, Billy Elsworth Samuels. He attended Campground School and joined the United States Navy in 1942 and was stationed at Virginia Beach, VA. He married his beloved wife of 65 years, Mary Louise Cooper of Taylor and Oxford, MS on November 2, 1945. After his Navy service, they returned to Memphis, TN where he was employed by S.C. Toof and Company for over 41 years. He retired in 1996 from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as the Director of Printing Services. He was recognized as an expert in the printing industry and was a frequent speaker and consultant to clients, schools, and universities. He received numerous awards and recognition for his success in sales and was a 32^nd degree mason for the Grand Lodge of Tennessee for over 50 years. He was a sports enthusiast and loved the Ole Miss Rebels and supported them enthusiastically.

 

He was very active in his church, St. Andrews United Methodist in Oxford and also in his church in Beebe, First United Methodist of Beebe. He was also an active member and volunteer with Exchange Club of Oxford and the Interfaith Compassion Ministries.

 

Poppie was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be fondly remembered for his greetings at church, his gentle demeanor, humor and creative spirit.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Louise Samuels of Beebe, AR; his daughter, Donna Louise Walton and her husband Earl of Beebe, AR; his son, Ronald Larry Samuels and his wife Lynn of Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Hollie Walton Gumm and her husband Matthew of Beebe, AR,  Whitney Samuels Musser and her husband Matthew of Nashville, TN, and Cooper Alan Samuels and his wife Kendall of Nashville, TN; his great grandchildren, Averee, Trevor, Caleb, Jayden, and Isaac, all of Beebe, Arkansas, and Walker and Hunter Musser of Nashville, TN; he also leaves many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

The family has requested that expressions of sympathy in Mr. Samuels’ memory be made to: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-1905, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 6, Oxford, MS 38655, or First United Methodist Church of Beebe, 302 North Main Street, Beebe, AR 72012.

In honor of Mr. Samuels’ service to our country the flag of the U.S. Navy is being flown over Waller Funeral Home during the time of services.

For additional information or to send an online condolence please visit our website, www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.