Samuel H. Sanford, 80, of St. Marys died March 14, 2014, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys.

He was born April 12, 1933, in St. Marys to the late Francis and Audrey (Farris) Sanford.

He married Anna Mae Hegemier Jan. 10, 1953. She preceded him in death on Jan. 12, 2001.

He is survived by his four children Scott (Lisa) Sanford of Clarkston, Mich., Stanley (Tami) Sanford and Kristine (Paul) Frilling both of St. Marys and Stuart Sanford of Texas; and 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by two brothers Riley Sanford of New Knoxville and Leonard Sanford of Fort Myers, Fla.; three sisters-in-law: Dorothy (Babe) Garcia of Carson City, Nev., Helen (Glenn) Botkin of LaJolla, Calif. and Irene Lininger of Saint Marys.

He was preceded in death by his siblings AJ Sanford, Vernita Jump, Bella Gibbs, Betty Rockwood and Lorraine Cook and an infant daughter, Kimberly.

He was a 1951 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School. He served in the US. Army during the Korean War. He was the longtime owner/operator of the Knotty Pine Tavern in St. Marys and later worked at Ace Hardware.

He enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in St. Marys.

Funeral rites will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, with the Rev. Dr. Ed Bray officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to a charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be sent to Millerfuneralhomes.net.