William Gene “Bill” Sampson, 86 of Westfield, died June 8, 2014 after an illness. Born May 14, 1928 in Akron, Ohio, he was the son of Kathleen (Osterdock) Sampson Hornbaker and Ira Sampson.
Raised on his grandparents’ farm in Clay County, Ill., he graduated from Flora High School and later attended Southern Illinois University. He served his country as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force post World War II through the Korean War as a flight navigator. He worked for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft and later moved to Indianapolis to serve as operations director of the City-County Building where he met his future wife, Barbara. They were married on May 14, 1967 in Home Place.
He is remembered for his significant contributions to the city of Indianapolis. He served in an Operations and Project Director role at the Indianapolis Convention Center, M&E Engineering, Methodist Hospital, the Hoosier/RCA Dome, Pan Am Plaza and Victory Field. He volunteered his time to serve as president of the Building Committee at Christ United Methodist Church, the Westfield Washington School Board, and was a founding and current member of the Westfield Washington Education Foundation.
He was a past member of the Lions Club and a current member of the Fidelity Lodge No. 309 of the Free & Accepted Masons. He attained the rank of 32nd degree mason and recently received his 50-year pin. He was honored by Mayor Hudnut and the City of Indianapolis in the 1980’s and by the City of Westfield in 2008. The street to the south of Victory Field was named in his honor. Bill’s commitment to faith, family, and friendship were perhaps his greatest accomplishments in life. He loved spending time with family and friends, attending his grandchildren’s athletic and music events, fishing, reading, and serving others through his community and church.
His family would like to thank the staff of Maple Park Village for their devotion and care during his final months.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Barmore) Sampson; daughters, Maureen (Paul) Green and Shannon (Tim) Stuart; brother, Donald (Mary) Sampson; sister, Evelyn (Gerry) Stanford; and grandchildren, Nicholas and Lauren Green and Tyler, Siera and Carly Stuart.
He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Clyde and Denzel Barmore; half-sister, Nancy Hetzer; stepfather, Elmer Hornbaker; and daughter, Patricia Sampson.
Visitation is 4 to 8:30 p.m. June 12 with a Masonic ceremony at 8:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 318 N. Union St. Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. June 13 at the church. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Humane Society for Hamilton County or the Westfield Washington Education Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.leppertmortuary.com.
