Samuel Ganaway, “Sam”, age 84, of New Bern, North Carolina, died on May, 21, 2017 at Brook Stone Living Center in Pollocksville, due to complications of Dementia. He served God as a missionary, pastor, Navy chaplain, counselor, community organizer, volunteer, and a devoted husband and father.
Sam, one of seven children, was born on All Saint’s Day, November 1, 1932 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of Amil and Eura(Trout) Ganaway. He married, Jewel Griffin on June 14, 1959 and they enjoyed their life together serving the church and their community, seeing the country, and the world, and raising their 4 children.
He pastored churches in Alaska, Oklahoma, and Missouri. He served in the US Navy as a chaplain for 24 years. Seven of those years were spent in the Coastal Carolina area with the Marines at Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, and New River. He also served in Lemore, California, Mayport, Florida, Gulfport, Mississippi, Bethesda, Maryland, Norfolk, Virginia, Atsugi, Japan, and Naples, Italy. He always looked to do what God would have him to do in the community and always left it, better than he found it. He retired from the Navy in 1991. In 2008, Sam and Jewel returned to the New Bern, NC area where he could raise his chickens, grow vegetables and fruit trees, and even flowers when required, and enjoy the beach. He was a member of the Spring Garden Baptist Church, and the New Bern VFW.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years Jewel, daughter Joanna Jafferis (Pete), Overland Park, KS and his sons, Glen Ganaway (Yolanda), Brooklyn, NY, Reuben Ganaway (Cristy), Chesapeake, VA, and Neal Ganaway (Kelly), New Bern, NC, his grandchildren, Zachary, Brandon, and Porsha, his brothers, James, and Dan, and his sisters, Anna Mae Pitts, and Eunice Miller. He is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Amil and Ernie.
The family will receive friends Saturday, May 27 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Spring Garden Baptist Church, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am. Burial, with military honors by the U.S. Navy will follow at New Bern Memorial Cemetery.
Online condolences may be directed here on the Pollock-Best website
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