Obituary for Samuel Sullivan Irvin III
Pisgah Forest - Samuel Sullivan Irvin III passed away Dec 15th,2022 at his home of natural causes.
Sam was born in Asheville, NC on March 11,1957 but spent nearly all of his youth growing up in the Canal Zone on the isthmus of Panama. Sam briefly attended elementary school in Penrose (Transylvania County), NC before moving to the Canal Zone where he attended Los Rios Elementary, Curundu Junior High and Balboa High Schools; graduating with the BHS class of 1975, known by his friends as "Sapo".
Sam was a member of several school clubs, lettered on the Swim Team as a diver and contributed art work to many school publications, including the year book, as well as representing his Senior Class as their President. Upon graduation, Sam attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a United States Coast Guard Third Mate's License,Unlimited Tonnage. Sam sailed in the Merchant Marine for the next three decades moving up the ranks ultimately earning the distinction as a Master Mariner and was awarded the "Silver Mariner Award" by his alma mater. Sam's retirement returned him permanently to his longtime beloved home"on the mountain" in Pisgah Forest, NC where he graciously welcomed one and all to his piece of Heaven while minding the mountain along side his father, his grandfather and his Uncle Tom.
Sam regularly represented the Irvin family Clan at the Hendersonville,NC Presbyterian Church "Kirkin of the Tartans" with parents, he was a member of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (earning the SFA's 2012 "Tynan McDermid Spirit" award), he was a Mason, he played harmonic in the local band "The Hogtown Squealers", was a member of the Brevard Davidson River Presbyterian Church and was owner/artisan of "Sam's Granite" selling his wares at many a Transylvania County Farmer's Market. Sam's love, outgoing personality and artistic contributions in music, drawing, granite work, etc will be missed every day.
Sam is survived by his mother Norma, his children Jessalyn and Samuel IV, his brothers Tom and John and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Sam's family request contributions, in Sam's name, to a local charity worthy of his name.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
Sam was born in Asheville, NC on March 11,1957 but spent nearly all of his youth growing up in the Canal Zone on the isthmus of Panama. Sam briefly attended elementary school in Penrose (Transylvania County), NC before moving to the Canal Zone where he attended Los Rios Elementary, Curundu Junior High and Balboa High Schools; graduating with the BHS class of 1975, known by his friends as "Sapo".
Sam was a member of several school clubs, lettered on the Swim Team as a diver and contributed art work to many school publications, including the year book, as well as representing his Senior Class as their President. Upon graduation, Sam attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a United States Coast Guard Third Mate's License,Unlimited Tonnage. Sam sailed in the Merchant Marine for the next three decades moving up the ranks ultimately earning the distinction as a Master Mariner and was awarded the "Silver Mariner Award" by his alma mater. Sam's retirement returned him permanently to his longtime beloved home"on the mountain" in Pisgah Forest, NC where he graciously welcomed one and all to his piece of Heaven while minding the mountain along side his father, his grandfather and his Uncle Tom.
Sam regularly represented the Irvin family Clan at the Hendersonville,NC Presbyterian Church "Kirkin of the Tartans" with parents, he was a member of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (earning the SFA's 2012 "Tynan McDermid Spirit" award), he was a Mason, he played harmonic in the local band "The Hogtown Squealers", was a member of the Brevard Davidson River Presbyterian Church and was owner/artisan of "Sam's Granite" selling his wares at many a Transylvania County Farmer's Market. Sam's love, outgoing personality and artistic contributions in music, drawing, granite work, etc will be missed every day.
Sam is survived by his mother Norma, his children Jessalyn and Samuel IV, his brothers Tom and John and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Sam's family request contributions, in Sam's name, to a local charity worthy of his name.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.