Sam Stover
March 20, 1950 - August 23, 2023
Springfield, Mo
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Midwest Cremation & Funeral Services, LLC - Springfield on Aug. 31, 2023.
Sammy Joe Stover (Sam) died peacefully at Republic Nursing and Rehabilitation on August 23rd, 2023, surrounded by family. He is the son of the late Clyde Raymond Stover and Ruth Odessa Hall.
Sam was born and raised in Bakersfield California. After High School, Sam enlisted in the United States Army as a Chaplain and served that role faithfully until his discharge as a Staff Sergeant. Sam spent his life in spreading the word of God and charitable service. He was the Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, a volunteer Hospice Chaplain who performed Angel Watch duties and visited with veterans at the Mt Vernon VA, and was the best Santa Claus Mt Vernon had ever seen.
Sam enjoyed coffee, good wine and good food, dogs, baseball, compelling media, and he loved to laugh. Sam was also an artist with words, writing beautiful, thought-provoking sermons, and adding insights many people would not consider. But Sam's true passion lay in helping others. He was the kind of person who experienced genuine joy when feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or embracing a person during their darkest hours. His charitable nature and patience were limitless, and the world is lesser with his absence.
Sam was preceded in death by both his parents, Clyde Stover and Ruth Hall, as well has his older sister, Gwynne. Sam is survived by his sister, June, his loving and faithful wife, Billie Klingaman, his daughter, Rebecca Stover, his son, William Stover, his stepdaughter Jackie Zuiderveld, his stepson, William Pederson, and his granddaughters Sierra Courtright and Victoria Enos, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Services are private. In lieu of cards and flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to Republic Nursing and Rehabilitation in Republic, Missouri, in his name.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/sam-stover-obituary?id=52989557
James Reynolds
Remembering Sam Stover
During our senior year at South High, Sam Stover was our ASB President—and I had the pleasure of serving beside him as Vice President. It was the kind of partnership that worked because of who Sam was: calm, confident, and completely at ease in any room. I couldn’t claim even ten percent of the seriousness and sense of duty that Sam brought to his role as our student representative.
I first met Sam under unusual circumstances, long before high school. It was the spring of our 8th grade year. In what can only be described as a scheduling curiosity, the 8th grade boys from Greenfield played the 8th grade boys from Golden State Junior High. I don’t remember many details—but I do remember Sam. He was Golden State’s pitcher that day.
The setup was odd. At Greenfield, we played 10-inch ball—hardball with a rubberized shell, pitched overhand. But when we arrived at Golden State, we were told it would be a softball game: underhand pitching, smaller diamond. I may have been scheduled to pitch, so I remember feeling particularly deflated. Maybe Jerry Mason, Eugene, Wal Topic, or others can recall more, but the last-minute switch changed the tone of the day. I’ve always wondered if our coach knew and just didn’t tell us. We’ll never know.
What I do know is this: Sam was on the mound. And even then, he had presence. Else, why would I remember him pitching?
Throughout high school, Sam continued to stand out—not just for what he did, but how he did it. He seemed born for public life. I always thought he’d become a lawyer; he had that kind of poise. No visible nerves. Just natural confidence and a way of connecting with people that made leadership seem effortless.
Sam was our class president as a freshman—maybe another year too—and eventually joined the Steinman theatrical crowd. He had a performer’s grace, but without the ego.
Physically, he was something of an early bloomer. In Little League photos, he’s clearly bigger than his same-aged teammates. But I don’t think he grew much after that. He played freshman baseball—like several of us—but didn’t continue in sports after that season, as far as I know.
No matter. Sam's real strength was never measured in physical stature. He was a unifier, an organizer, and a friend to all. You just couldn’t say a bad word about him—and nobody ever tried. To me, Sam always felt a step ahead—almost like a college guy embedded in our class. Vicki used to call him ‘the little man,’ because he so often moved through our high school halls with a briefcase in hand, like he was already headed somewhere important.
He was the model student leader: respected, admired, and genuinely liked by everyone who crossed his path.
I’ve collected several photos of Sam from our yearbooks and will display them here. Each one captures what we all remember: the smile, the posture, the presence.
Sam Stover: a class act, from beginning to end.
James Reynolds
I'm guessing third from the right, second to bottom row. Probably has a briefcase, too.
Sam is the big kid. Hard to believe. His childhood friends sent me these old photos. Only 65 years old!
He is still the big kid, right in the middle back. Selma, I believe.
Freshman year.
With Eugene, trying to miss weight.
Interesting bunch of people in these pictures. Maybe you recognize a few. Taken 57 years ago.
One shot capturing so many faces and personalities. It is weird, but after dealing with this class for a year (2018) I know the name of every person in this photo.
James Reynolds
41st Reunion, I believe.
35th Reunion?
Maybe 53 years old here?
41st. You can see all the 50th Reunion photos of Sam in the photos over on the left tab.
James Reynolds
James Reynolds
James Reynolds