Samuel Wehby Sr.

WEHBY, Sr., Samuel Owen “Sam,” age 84, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 30th, 2021, with his daughter, Elizabeth by his side.

Sam was born in Nashville on October 22, 1936, to his Lebanon-born father, Jack P. Wehby, Sr. and mother, Rossie Lou Ellithorpe. He was proud of his Nashville roots and Lebanese heritage and took care to educate his children about both. The youngest son of six children, Sam is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Jack P. Wehby, Jr. and William E Wehby, Sr., and sister Shirley Wehby Welch. He is survived by brother Mickey Wehby, sister Delores Wehby Young and children Elizabeth Wehby Delpapa, Sam Wehby, Jr.(Jan), Mark Wehby(Ronda), Laura Wehby Marshall(Trey), twelve grandchildren and three (soon four) great-grandchildren, close friends Paul Gasser, Greg Diaz, Louis Horton, Jim Holmes and Chong hui Jones.

A true Nashville native, Sam graduated from Central High School in 1954 and earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee in 1960, where his life-long devotion to the Orange and White began. In 1972, he settled with his children in Hendersonville, TN and remained there for 48 years.

Sam retired in 1998 after 38 years as Regional Credit Manager with Sears Roebuck & Co, and was able to spend his long retirement pursuing his hobbies and exploring the city he loved. An avid photographer, Sam had photographed every TVA dam on the Tennessee River, as well as many historic lighthouses along the East Coast. Through his photography, he was working to chronicle his beloved city, and preserve the pieces of old Nashville now becoming lost to expansion.  Even in his golden years, Sam was always up-to-date on entertainment, technology, and enjoyed talking to his grandchildren about current events.

Sam was known for his integrity, his faith, his quick-witted comebacks and notoriously punny ‘Dad Jokes.’ He was a loyal friend, a story-teller, a teacher and devoted father. He lives on through the bright sense of humor and unwavering work-ethic that he passed on to his children, and in the memories of all who knew and loved him.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2nd Timothy 4:7

(In honor of Sam’s wishes, there will not be a service)