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Sam Houston Showell Jr., avid pilot, boatsman

August 3, 2013

Sam Houston Showell Jr., 89, died Thursday Aug. 1, 2013, at his home at White House Beach in Millsboro.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., he was the son of the late Sam Houston Showell Sr., and Imogene Ittel  Showell.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Banks Showell, in 2010.

He is survived by three sons, Robert Banks Showell and his wife Janice of White House Beach, David Forest Showell of Lewes and Mark Alan Showell of Rehoboth Beach.  There are three grandchildren, Heather Campbell and her husband Keith of White House Beach, Millsboro, Erin K. Showell of Houston, Texas, and Sam “Trey” Showell III of White House Beach.  There is one great-grandson, Blake Showell Campbell.  Also surviving are his brothers, John R. Showell and his wife Louise of Lewes, and William H. Showell and his wife Hilda of White House Beach.  There are numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by a brother, David I. Showell in 1929.

Mr. Showell was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran.  He was the former president of White House Beach and still served on the board of directors.  He had also served on the board of directors for Wilmington Trust Bank Corporation.  He was an enthusiastic commercial pilot, owning and flying numerous planes, and was an active boatsman.  He was  a member of Sussex American Legion Post 28. He was also a master mason of Franklin Lodge 12 in Georgetown, as well a member of The Tall Cedars of Lebanon in Milford, and a 32nd Degree Mason.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m., at St. George’s Chapel, 20274 Beaver Dam Road, Route 23, Harbeson.  Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service.  Interment with military honors will follow in St. George’s Chapel Churchyard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vitas Hospice Care, 1016 N. Walnut St., Walnut Professional Center, Milford, DE 19963, or St. George’s Chapel Cemetery Fund, 20274 Beaver Dam Road, Route 23, Harbeson, DE 19951.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin, MD.

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