Samuel Saylor Samsel, Jr.

Samuel Saylor Samsel, Jr. born August 30 1932 to Sam and Alma (Haworth) Samsel of Johnsonburg, passed away at age 90, at Elk Haven Nursing Home on Nov. 11th, 2022.   

Sam graduated from Johnsonburg High School in 1951. He enlisted in the Navy from 1952 to 1956 and was stationed aboard the Destroyer Escort 365 in the Pacific Theater for a total of 43 months during the Korean Conflict.  

He married Mary Ann Rindos and had a son Samuel, the third, in 1966. In 1977 his daughter, Shana S. Samsel, was born, and he gained 4 step daughters to his second marriage.

From his earliest years his greatest passion was with horses, gait training and riding, then teaching children and adults the pleasures of caring for them as well as riding. He taught many through 4H classes and at his farm.  Later he and his daughters won ribbons at shows around Pennsylvania and surrounding states. He was president of the National Arabian Horse Organization and raised Arabians at S.S.S Arabian Stables and his later years, Samarah Stables. Sam was a businessman, a professionally trained butcher, and retired after several decades at Speers and CG in St. Mary’s.

Sam’s later years were shared with Margaret Irwin Michaels, his third wife, in Wilcox and Johnsonburg.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Sam and Alma Samsel, his wife, Margaret Samsel, brother Ralph Samsel, sisters Helen Patterson and Alma Jean Luhr. 

Survivors include, a sister Ruth Louise Samsel, of Newtown PA, son Samuel Saylor Samsel III of Voorhees, New Jersey, Daughter Shana Saylor Samsel, of Ridgway PA, stepchildren Justine Paget of Myrtle Beach South Carolina, Stephanie Piccirillo of Ridgway PA, Leslie Paget of Johnsonburg PA, Danielle Taylor of Ridgway PA, David Michaels of Johnsonburg, Andrea Huber of Johnsonburg, Michelle Wurm of St. Mary’s, Many step grandchildren and great grandchildren, 3 granddaughters, Isabella Shall of Ridgway PA, Norah Papa of Brockway PA, Saylor Papa of Brockway PA, and a great grandson, Rowan Richardson of Ridgway PA. 

There will be no visitation. Friends and family are welcome to attend funeral services at Wardvale Methodist Cemetery in Johnsonburg PA at 11:00am Saturday, Nov. 19th 2022 with Rev. Stephen Fair, Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Johnsonburg officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Johnsonburg/Ridgway Serviceman’s Detail. Service members are asked to assemble, 10:45am, at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family suggest donations to Veteran’s Affairs in Ridgway PA., and will be accepting online condolences on the funeral homes website at www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com  . The Ubel Funeral Home of Johnsonburg has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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