Olive Sarah Sams

Olive Sarah Sams September 20, 1918 – February 18, 2007 Olive Sarah Weetman Sams passed away Sunday, February 18, 2007 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. There was a family graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery on Monday, February 19. A gathering with the family will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, February 20, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Olive was born September 20, 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio but spent her early childhood years with her parents, Rupert and Eva Freda Von Penske Weetman and her eight brothers and sisters on their farm in Falls Church, Virginia. She was raised in a Christian home and joined the church at an early age. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco for over 37 years. While a teenager, Olive moved to San Diego, California to be with her sister, Esther Taylor, and she spent the next portion of her life there until she married Ross Martin Sams, Jr. on December 20, 1969 and moved to Waco. When Olive was in California she was prominent in civic work including serving as President of Zonta and President of the Council of Presidents which was made up of all presidents of the United Way agencies. She was the first woman to become Employment Manager for Pacific Bell Telephone as she continued to break the glass ceilings for women employees. Olive was also County Commissioner for the county of San Diego when she resigned and moved to Texas. Once in Waco she quickly became involved in the community, serving as President, Trustee and Chair of the YWCA, the Grand Jury, and the City Human Relations Committee. She graduated from Baylor University in December, 1985 and was a guest lecturer in the Hankamer School of Business for many years. Olive served on a committee of three who selected the Baylor Homecoming Queen for years and was also a member of the Baylor Education Committee. She became editor and publisher of the family business, L.L. Sams & Sons, news magazine, Pew Parade, and she soon knew every one of the hundreds of people working there and about their families. Once Olive became Ross’ wife she learned to cook and entertain for both business and social occasions. She cheerfully adapted herself to her husband’s recreational habits, watching football and basketball, playing cards and backgammon as they traveled the world together. Olive fit into her husband’s plans in every way and he always referred to her as his “Perfect Wife”. When Olive moved to Waco she changed from an extremely capable business executive into a wonderful mother of two teenagers who renamed her Sweeto. She planned and managed Jamie’s debutante party, Donna’s and Jamie’s weddings and she was the only grandmother that Nathan or Sarah ever knew. Olive had a heart of compassion for stray animals and many, many became their “family members”. Olive is survived by her loving husband, Ross Sams, Jr. of Waco; their two daughters, Jamie Sams of Sante Fe, New Mexico, and Donna Sams of Waco and Olive's two grandchildren, Nathan O’Neal of Austin, Texas and Sarah Sanner and Olive’s only great grandchild, Abigail Abby Sanner, both of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; her sister, Fay Mrs. Bill Gilchrist and her daughter, Linda Gilchrist McGuffin and husband, Rick, all of Lemon Grove, California; her brother, Jim Weetman and his wife, Joan, of Santa Rosa, California; her sister-in-law, Mary Sams Howell; and Mary’s son, Hobby Howell and his sons, Hob and Clark Howell; Mary’s daughter, Gala Howell King and her son, Chance King; as well as a host of other nieces, nephews and loving friends. Waco and the world is a much better place because Olive passed our way. The family would especially like to thank Kay Luedtke, Anna Moreno, Maria Moreno of Hewitt, Maria Moreno of Prairie Hill, Sue Wells and Fidel Salazar for their loving care of Olive during her last years. Memorials may be made to the Olna McDonald Sams Scholarship Fund at Baylor University, P.O. Box 97028, Waco Tx 76798-7027 or any other of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey