Capt. Samuel Sullivan Irvin Jr., 85, of Hendersonville, went to live with the Lord from Carolina Village on July 20, 2011.
Sam was born and raised in the Panama Canal Zone, and attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY where he obtained his maritime license and a commission in the US Navy to serve in World War II. He served on merchant ships after the war, ultimately earning his Masterís license. Once married and raising a family, he returned to the Canal Zone where he spent twenty years serving as a Panama Canal Pilot.
Capt. Irvin and his wife Norma retired to the Hendersonville area in 1981. He was a member of Kedron Lodge and a Shriner. He and his wife have also been active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville.
Capt. Irvin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Norma Lewis Irvin; his three sons, Samuel Sullivan Irvin III, Thomas Dalton Irvin, John Robert Irvin; their families and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held the First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville at 10:30 AM on Monday, July 25, 2011.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Four Seasons Compassion for Life (Hospice) at 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731 website: www.FourSeasonsCFL.org; or to the Shrinerís Hospitals for Children c/o the Hendersonville Shrine Club at P.O. Box 1901, Hendersonville, NC 28793 website: www.donate2shc.org.
Tribute Wall