Samuel Huron "Sam" Robbins [Click to enlarge]

Samuel Huron "Sam" Robbins, 74, of Rector, formerly of Effingham, Ill., died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at his home.

A retired fireman and truck driver, he was born Aug. 5, 1927, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late George Clifford Robbins and Leta Viola Hemingway Robbins. He was a member of the East Side Holly Island Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Esperita (Huckabay) Robbins, of the home, to whom he was married May 8, 1970; two sons, Sam Gene Robbins Sr. of Clinton, Okla., and Keff Eubanks of Brookland; three daughters, Leta Barnett of Little Rock, Nancy Rouggly of Farmington, Mo., and Judy Valle of Park Hills, Mo.; one sister, Nettie Logabrink of St. Louis; 11 grandchildren, Amanda Sutter, William Cecil Harrel III, Kelly Hurlbut, Karen Strassle, Brooke Houston, Aubrey Anderson, Sam Robbins Jr., Angela Scibblehut, Bailey Eubanks, Joshua Sutter and Shane Sutter; six great-grandchildren, and a special nephew, Matthew Huckabay.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Renesa Sutter, in 1995; one brother, BeDe DeMoss; four sisters, Elvee Talbott, Clorene Fenalli, Norene Holst and Lorene Lohmeyer, and one grandson, James Strassle.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Rev. Kim Bridges, Rev. Kenny Burns and Rev. Charles Carrens officiating. Burial was in Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector with Irby Funeral Home of Rector in charge of arrangements.

Active pallbearers were William Cecil Harrel III, Joshua Sutter, Shane Sutter, Matthew Huckabay, Pete Houston and Doug Anderson. Honorary pallbearers were Don Mosley, Paul Jeffers, Dwaine Campbell and David Mosley.