Sam J. Whitcomb

Sam J. Whitcomb, age 88, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, September 28, at Holy Family Chapel, 2800 Central Avenue. Sam was born November 10, l924, in Chicago, IL. He met the love of his life, JoAnn Davis, at Tracey’s Restaurant and wooed her until she agreed to date him. Sam and JoAnn were married on New Year’s Eve in 1960 in Great Falls and made their home in Black Eagle for almost 50 years. As a child he spent some time in Kansas City, Kansas, then his family moved to Montana. When he was 10, he lived in Columbia Falls, Belton (now called West Glacier), Coram and Polson. Among the stories he told was riding on the rumble seat on top of bootleg whiskey and a wild ride on a dive bomber. He was drafted into the Navy and was stationed in San Diego on Coronado Island when he was 19 and served only one year as the war ended. He stayed in San Diego for a short time and was a welder in the shipyards. He worked in the mines in Nevada and then he moved around doing various jobs: a lumber mill in Libby, the mines and highway work in Salt Lake City and then moved to Great Falls to be near his brother Tom. He worked at the Anaconda Copper Wire Mill in Black Eagle for 30 years until it closed down and he retired. During a long strike period, Sam worked for the railroad welding the tracks. He was on the traveling cars running to Washington, Idaho and Libby, Montana. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing and playing cards, especially pinochle and cribbage. He was the family champ and proud of it. Survivors include daughters Sami (Bob) Spencer of Missoula, Cindy (Barry) O’Connell of Great Falls, and, son Dean Bauman of Great Falls; sisters-in laws Georgia (Don) Briggeman and Fern (Dale) Reighard of Deer Lodge; and Roberta Whitcomb of Missoula. He has 8 grandchildren, Bo (Evelyn) Spencer and Alex (Kyla) Spencer of Missoula, Luke (Jen) O’Connell and Drew O’Connell, Great Falls, Nola (Adam) DuBose, Washington; and 8 great-grandchildren. Sam is now joined once again with his soul mate, JoAnn, who preceded him in death along with his parents Samuel J. and Arley Belma (Caskey) Whitcomb, his brother Thomas K. Whitcomb, and grandson Timothy Bauman. Memorials can be sent to the Senior Citizen Center, 1004 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT 59401.