Sam Fair

Sam Fair Sam Fair, 84, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Thursday, May 13, 2010, in a local hospital. Sam was born in Knoxville and graduated from Central High School. He entered the Army during WWII in 1944, as part of the 10th Mountain Division serving in Italy. He was awarded the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and two battle stars. In 1947 he went to work for Southern Bell in Knoxville and after several promotions came to Cleveland as Group Manager of the Southeast Tennessee area and retired in 1985 after 38 years of service. Sam had a rich and extensive history of giving back to his community. He was founder and former president of the Cleveland Sertoma Club and was later named the club’s East Tennessee District Governor. He was a past president and member of the Cleveland Rotary Club. He served as president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce in 1975, and also served on several other local boards including Junior Achievement, Regional Speech and Hearing Center, American Cancer Society, the Bicentennial Commission, Cleveland Golf and Country Club and the Boy’s Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. He was preceded in death by his parents, H.C. and Ada Routh Fair, two brothers: John Fair and Ernest Fair, and two sisters: Juanita Kramer and Ann Warwick. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sue Fair of Cleveland; three children: David Fair and wife Marcia of Cleveland, Teri Colloms of Cleveland, and Becky Lunsford and husband Dick of Fall Branch; three grandchildren: Mandi Colloms, Brent Fair, both of Cleveland, and Brooke Smith and husband Jared of Chattanooga; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2010, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Allan Lockerman officiating. Entombment with military honors will be held in Sunset Memorial Gardens Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. concluding with a white dove release. Pallbearers include Nick Humble, Martin Stutz, Wayne Richardson, Steve Morgan, Joe Moore and Randy Parris. The Howard Kuhns Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. His family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Monday at the church prior to the service at the church. The family requests memorials be made to: First Baptist Church Building Fund, 340 Church St. Cleveland, TN 37311 Ralph Buckner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Fair family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.