Samuel 'Sam' Orton
Samuel “Sam” Orton, 79, of Emlenton passed away suddenly Monday evening at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Sam was born in Allegheny Township on May 21, 1938, and was the son of the late Orville and Elma Violet Johns Orton.
He was a graduate of the former Parker High School.
Sam began a career spanning 40-plus years at the former Quaker State Refinery in Emlenton, where he retired.
Even though Sam retired, he always stayed busy plowing snow in the winter and was the go to “maintenance man” at the Allegheny Grille in Foxburg, as well as Bridgeview Apartments in Emlenton.
He enjoyed hunting and was always around and willing to lend a hand. He was the caretaker and sexton of the Allegheny Cemetery near Parker for 15 years, donating countless hours and weekends. He also was an owner-operator for his bus lines, providing transportation for the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District.
Sam was a member of and served on various committees for the Emlenton United Methodist Church.
With all of his committees and work ventures, Sam's most important legacy was his family. He loved spending time with his family and his grandchildren. He took his family on numerous vacations to Walt Disney World, as well as to Ocean City, N.J. He also enjoyed playing the Pennsylvania Lottery.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Fry Orton, whom he married Sept. 7, 1962; his three children, Pam (Derwin) Wenner, Tracy (Dewey) Irwin and Tim (Anita) Orton, all of Emlenton; his grandchildren, Chase, Dolan, Denton Wenner, Dalena Custer, Brody, Brooke Irwin, Levi Orton, Natasha (Catlin Adams) Richar, Joshua and Nathan Richar; his great-grandchildren, Arianna and Jaxon Adams; a sister, Dorothy Hansotte of Butler; a sister-in-law, Ramona Orton of Parker; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Opal Steffy; and one brother, Raymond Orton.
ORTON — Friends of Samuel “Sam” Orton, who died Monday, March 19, 2018, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, 201 S. Wayne Ave., Parker.The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Gene Lenk of the Emlenton United Methodist Church officiating.Interment will follow at the Allegheny Cemetery near Parker.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Sam's honor be made either to Butler Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular Center as a special thank you to Dr. Phillip Painley for all of his care, or to the Emlenton Area Ambulance Service.To view or to send condolences, please visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.
