of Benton, AR

August 31, 1926 - December 17, 2020

John Arlon Sams, 94, of Benton, passed into the loving arms of his Savior on Thursday, December 17, 2020. He was born August 31, 1926 in Martinville, Arkansas to William Eli and Mary Iola Freeman Sams.

John was a family man who loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed cooking and golf, and played professional baseball in his younger days for the Hot Springs Bathers. He had to take a very early retirement from baseball due to a shoulder injury from being able to throw the hardest pitches. In fact, he threw so hard that the catcher would have to be swapped out between innings because their hands couldn't withstand the force from catching his pitches! He then moved on to being a Firefighter for the Little Rock Fire Department, from which he retired after 22 years as a Captain. He also served in the United States Army. John was an outstanding contractor and draftsman and loved designing floor plans and building homes himself. He even had the opportunity to work alongside his wife, Norma, through the construction of many homes. John was full of many wonderful traits and ''loved by his actions'' in countless ways. He will be missed but his memory will be cherished and his legacy will continue on through those who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Eldon Sams, W.E. Sams Jr.; sister, Carolyn Gray; half-sisters, Rosalie Ryan, and Gladys Fuchs, and half-brother, Doyle Sams.

John is survived by his wife of a very accomplished 67 years, Norma Sams; his sons, Randy Sams and his wife, Marla, and Greg Sams; two grandsons, Jon Austin Sams and his wife, Sylvia, and Crayton Allen Sams; great-grandchildren, Hugh Arlin Sams, and Serena Grace Sams; brothers, Marvin Sams and Wayne Sams; sisters, Anavurl Karber, Luevern Glover, and many other extended family members and friends.

A visitation will be Monday, December 21, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Roller-Alcoa Funeral Home, 6700 Alcoa Rd., Benton. A Funeral Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. following visitation. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

Interment with military honors will be Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Martinville Cemetery in Martinville, Arkansas.

We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance to 100 people at one time. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering.

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