Samuel (Bill) Crowell

Mr. Samuel Marvin (Bill) Crowell, age 93 of Glendale Road, Lexington, NC died peacefully Thursday, March 1 at Hinkle Hospice House. A Graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 8 at Carolina Memorial Park in Concord conducted by Rev. Tommy Wilson. The family will see friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday, March 7 at Davidson Funeral Home. Samuel Marvin (Bill)Crowell was born, January 16, 1919 in Davidson County to David Lowry Crowell and Florence Lookabill Crowell. and lived a full and happy life. He loved the simplicity of his childhood in Southmont, teaching himself to swim in the Yadkin River before it was High Rock Lake, fishing and hunting along its banks, picking cotton on the Stoner’s farm, and playing baseball in the summers. He worked at Erlanger Cotton Mill out of high school and then joined the Navy during WWII. Bill served six years as an aircraft mechanic before leaving the service. He married the love of his life, Margaret Riddle. They returned to Lexington where he apprenticed as a plumber with his brother-in-law H.C. Davis and received his master plumbing license. He decided, however, to leave Lexington and accepted a civil service position at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida as a jet mechanic eventually working and instructing others on the largest jet engines of the day. He also joined the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was a helicopter sonar analyst, rising in the ranks to Chief Pettty Officer E9. He was proud of his service to the country. Bill was a devoted husband and father, the best dad a boy could want. He was playful but demanding, a friend yet a wise counselor, a man’s man but with a tender heart and not afraid to show sincere love. He was unprejudiced throughout his life and valued people for who they were. He was active in his church and was an ordained deacon, a leader by example. When Bill retired he returned to Lexington to be in the place he always considered home. He and Margaret enjoyed traveling and spent several months a year with their son’s family in California becoming an integral part of their granddaughter, Chesley’s life, building a bond that will never be broken. He was overjoyed to meet his great granddaughter at his 90th birthday, Lily Sophia. Family meant the world to him. He loved his cousins and relatives and was especially close to his niece Nancy Crowell McBride and nephew, Dr. Herb Davis. Herb was like a second son to him. And he was forever appreciative of great friends like G. L. Kerns and G. L.’s granddaughter, Kirsten. Always active, Bill was an avid gardener, volunteer, and Sunday School member at First Baptist Church of Lexington. He loved golf and was awarded two Jimmie Walker hole-in-one plaques. He never missed watching a Duke basketball game and was an avid fan. Bill will be sorely missed by his son Sam, his daughter-in-law Debbie, his granddaughter Chesley Schamroth, her husband Bob Schamroth, his great-granddaughter Lily, and all who knew him. He was an original. He leaves a legacy of love, integrity, and simple wisdom. A remarkable man. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church PO Box 436, Lexington, NC 27293