Samuel Howard Fountain

April 11, 1932 - September 16, 2020

Dear Husband, Father, Granddad, Papa Sam. Today, September 16th, 2020, we said goodbye to you for the last time as you peacefully joined our creator. As we gather in your home in Leesburg, VA we remember your accomplishments; server of your country, first college graduate in the family, Methodist minister to thousands, author, and devoted Florida Gator. Husband, lover, and best friend to 1; Trisha. Father of 6: Linda, Darlene, Sam Jr, Lynette, Josh, and Nick. Grandfather of 13: Jessica, Christina, Keith, Susan, Dee Dee, Jacquie, Michael, Houston, Sam III, Miranda, Alex, Finely, Rocky, and Autumn. Papa Sam to 12: Zachary, Shirley, Zoe, Myles, Cayden, Keith III, Frankie, Lexi, Sophia, Asher, Anthony, and Alaina. You accepted and loved unconditionally our choices by opening your arms and heart to Tom, Artie, Len, Edwin, Mike, Cindia, Chris, Tony, Justin, Angel, Cassandra, Erica, and Bryce. We cannot start to put into words the people’s lives that you touched. The peace and unity you brought to this world. We remember the easter morning services on the hill above the cross in Ferrisburgh VT, the puppet tales that taught communities of children the difference between right and wrong, the ear that you gave each person who needed you without judgement and always with love, and the way you brought people together when they just wanted to be apart. We will forever remember the stories at bedtimes, rocking the babies to sleep, and reading the Night Before Christmas to the neighborhood after Christmas-eve service. The unity you provided was not only within the list above but in all the lives you touched through marriages, baptisms, and counseling sessions. We will hold on to your memory by acting rather than remembering, because in this family we do not try we do and if we fail we do it again, because the only person that can embarrass you is yourself, because staying on your side of the road is not always necessary if it keeps the person in front of you safe, and mostly because all people have their own story and all people need love to keep going. We will miss your whit, the “I’ve got your nose’s”; the Puff the Magic Dragon, the Peter, Paul and Mary on repeat, the water voice, the Einstein look, the bear hugs that took our breath away, the tears you insisted cleared the soul. We are so thankful that you opened our eyes to what unconditional love really is, how to walk through this life without judgement, to love all. When we are down you are the first call, the first drive, the first hug. Who will replace that now that you are gone? We will see you in the faces of your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. You will sit on the mantel, on the wall, in photo albums, in our minds. You created our heaven on earth; our chance to create our own heaven. Forever with love. Rev. Dr. Samuel H Fountain, April 11, 1932 to infinity.