Obituary of Samuel Joseph Felton

Samuel Joseph Felton, 94, passed away on March 22, 2019 in Urbana, Illinois. Mr. Felton was born in Whaleyville (now Suffolk) Virginia, son of John E. Felton (deceased) and Cennie Lee Felton (deceased), and spent his childhood years in Whaleyville. He graduated from Whaleyville High School and served in the US Navy at the end of WWII. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1950. He taught Agriculture at Holland High School in Holland, Virginia, and served as Vice-Principle. He joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1964 and served in St. Louis, Missouri, Los Angeles, California, and Norfolk, Virginia where he retired. He married Maybelle Umberger (deceased), of Wytheville, Virginia in 1951.

Surviving are three daughters, Leellen F. Solter (Philip) of Urbana, Illinois, Denise M. F. Crane (Carter) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Ann J. F. Griffin (Allan) of Hollister, California. Mr. Felton is also survived by grandchildren Alec S. Griffin (Nicole), Aaron R. Griffin, Andrew M. Griffin (Tamar), Allacyn L. Griffin-May (Harley), Etta F. C. Cowdrey (Sean), Evan J. Crane, and Ravi M. Solter; great-grandchildren Aaden and Addison Griffin, Gray and Tali Griffin, and Yvonne Cowdrey; as well as his and Maybelle’s beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Grubb Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Pastor Joe Shumate, with interment to follow in the St. John’s Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 P.M. until service time.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a memorial gift, please consider St. Jude’s Hospital for Children (262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org) or St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund in Wytheville. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.