January 3, 1929 - December 19, 2016 U.S. Veteran
Petersburg (VA) Alumni Chapter Chapter of Initiation: Alpha Phi (1949)
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Col (Retired) Samuel Benjamin Spicely, 87, of 14221 Glebe Rd, Dewitt, Va. entered into eternal rest on Monday, December 19, 2016 at Sitter & Barfoot Veteran’s Care Center Richmond, Va. He was born January 3, 1929 in Dinwiddie County to the late Samuel Ulysses and Sarah Jane Pelham Spicely. He received his early education in the schools of Dinwiddie County and graduated from Dinwiddie Training School in 1945. He attended Virginia State College (now University) for one year before enlisting in the Army. He served with the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in the Pacific and Japan. Upon discharge, he returned to Virginia State to continue his education. He enrolled in the ROTC Program and graduated in 1951, with a BS degree in Physics and a Regular Army Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant U. S. Army. During his thirty-one years of Military service, Samuel had numerous assignments. His initial assignment as a Regular Army Officer was with the 82nd Airborne Division. Subsequently he had two tours in Korea and Germany and a tour in Vietnam. His stateside assignments were to organizations or schools in Oklahoma, Maryland, Kansas, Kentucky and Virginia. He graduated in the 1964-65 Regular Class, Command and General Staff College. His decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations and campaign ribbons include: Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Japan, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Parachutist Badge and the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Samuel retired from the Army in 1977. He was inducted into the Ft. Lee Quartermaster Hall of Fame in 2014. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Dinwiddie Lions Club, and Triple Nickel 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Left to cherish his memories is his wife of sixty –five years, Geraldine S. Edmonds Spicely; daughters: Artrelle Lenise Spicely and Samelia(Mimi) Benita Spicely and one grandson, Branndon DeLante’ Williams. Funeral services for Retired Col. Samuel B. Spicely will be held 1 pm, Friday, December 23, 2016 at Mt. Poole Baptist Church, 9515 Baltimore Rd. Ford, VA, with Rev. Stephen W. Pugh, officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held at the Mt. Poole Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 22, 2016 from 6-7 pm at the Petersburg Chapel. |