William Edward Samples, born on December 23, 1952, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2024, in Ann Arbor, MI, surrounded by his loving family. He was 71 years old.
Will, as he was affectionately known, was born in Charleston, West Virginia, to Ralph and Martha Samples. He grew up in Plymouth, MI, and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1971. Following in his father’s footsteps, Will began working at Ford Motor Company, where he dedicated his career until his well-earned retirement in 2018.
Will and Beth Slabaugh, met in high school, and they later married on December 16, 1972. Together, they made their home that he built in Clinton, MI, where they raised their three daughters: Sara, Jessica, and Elizabeth. Will was an avid outdoorsman who cherished time spent in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at the family cabin. It was there that he, alongside his family, created lifelong memories-fishing, boating, and enjoying the beautiful Michigan beaches.
Later in life, Will deepened his faith and built a strong connection to God, finding joy in Bible studies and his newfound church community. Those who knew William will forever remember his enormous heart, generosity, laughter, and kindness. Outside of his love for family and faith (and his beloved basset hounds), Will had a passion for reading, history, gardening, craftsmanship, and riding motorcycles.
Will is survived by his devoted wife, Beth; his daughters, Sara (Jason), Jessica, and Elizabeth (Reid); his grandson, Beckett; his brother, Michael (Dawn); and his sister, Virginia. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Martha.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 302 N. Maumee St., Tecumseh, MI 49286, on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 p.m., with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the National Kidney Foundation or the Detroit Dog Rescue. Will was a kidney transplant recipient and cared deeply for his dogs.