Rev. Marlin James Sampson (retired) was born in Chickasha, Okla., on Feb. 1, 1923, and passed away on April 23, 2015, in Placerville, Calif. His wife of 67 years, Florence Evalyn (McBride) preceded him in death on June 12, 2013. He is survived by his six children: Michael (Michele), Georgetown, Calif.; Terry (Esther), Los Angeles, Calif.; James (Evelyn), Chugiak, Alaska; Catherine Frankeberger, Folsom, Calif.; Rebecca (Jeff Coyne), Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Timothy (Dagmar), Placerville, Calif.; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A U.S. Army World War II veteran, Marlin married and entered Concordia Theological Seminary in 1946, and was ordained by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 1951. His ministry included service in: Oklahoma (1951-53); the Southern Dixie Deaf Mission Field (Mississippi/Louisiana/Alabama/West Florida), based in Jackson, Miss. (1953-56) and the Midwest Deaf Mission Field (Texas/Oklahoma), based in Oklahoma City, Okla. (1956-60); Bethany Lutheran Church, Hawthorne, Nev. (July 1960-January 1966); Pleasanton California Valley (1966-68); and the Sacramento and San Francisco Peninsula Deaf Mission Field, based in San Francisco, Calif. (1968-78). In 1980, he moved to Georgetown, Calif., and served part-time until he moved to Placerville, Calif., in 1995, where he lived until his death.
“When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:1-2
