R. Sam Ebinger, age 75, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, May 8, 2005 at his home in Shelton with his family at his side.
He was born June 18, 1929 in Olympia, WA, the son of Walter and Helen Russell Underwood. Sam grew up in the Portland and Seattle areas graduating from Lincoln High School in Seattle. He has been a resident of Shelton since 1949 where Sam worked as a Communications Sgt-Supervisor for the City of Shelton Police Department as a dispatcher for 28 years, retiring in April of 1987. Sam was married to Elaine Crevier Ward on March 26, 1983 at Faith Lutheran Church and they resided in the Northcliff area of Shelton since that time. He was a creative person who wrote short stories, poems, and songs. He was always working on some kind of invention. Sam loved watching the Mariners and Seahawks and never missed a game. Sam for many years was active in foster parenting and was known as ‘Uncle Bud.’ He was very civic minded, participating in many civic committees and at one time ran for sheriff and was instrumental in organizing Mason County Transit. Most of all, Sam loved the Lord and his family.
He is survived by his wife Elaine and their daughter Sara of the family home in Shelton; two step-sons Kevin C. and his wife Tina Ward and their son Beau and Todd C. and his wife Darci Ward; his sister Sue and her husband Bill Fox all of Shelton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and foster daughters.
Private Family Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at Shelton Memorial Park with Memorial Services to follow at 3:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Shelton with Pastor Marlon Rains of the Calvary Fellowship officiating. Arrangements have been made under the care of Chuck Ruhl’s Lemley Chapel of Sedro-Woolley, WA. 360-855-1288. You are invited to share your memories of Sam by signing our online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com.