Samuel Veal
Memorial services were held Monday, July 7 for Samuel Wilkerson Veal, 64, Hoyt, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, Topeka.
Burial was at Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Covington, Ga.
Mr. Veal died July 2, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. He was born July 15, 1943, in Portersdale, Ga., the son of Billie and LaFaton Wilkerson Veal.
He received his high school diploma from Henry County High School, McDonough, Ga., in 1962, while serving in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1969, including several tours in Vietnam.
Before serving in the Air Force, he farmed at McDonough, Ga., and was a production worker at Oxford Mfg. Co. in Covington, Ga.
After serving in the Air Force, he made his home in Kansas, where he married Kay Henderson of Auburn. They later divorced. He married Marsha Kern Kelley on Aug. 8, 1986, in Olathe. He worked at Goodyear, Del Monte, and Payless Shoe, prior to founding Yosemity Sam’s Auto Repair, which still is in operation.
His favorite pastimes were drag racing a 1978 Ford truck and collecting NASCAR and Yosemite Sam memorabilia. Sam was always known for his sense of humor, his handlebar mustache and his love of family.
He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, James Michael Veal.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Richard Veal, Topeka, and Lance Kelley, Hoyt; two daughters, Angela Kraus, Tonganoxie, and Stephanie Jensen, Hoyt; his mother, LaFaton, Covington, Ga.; four sisters, Billie Hardy, Conyers, Ga., Janie Garner, Stone Mountain, Ga., Ann Collins, Snellville, Ga., and Madalyn Elliott, McDonough, Ga.; numerous grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 NW Rochester Road, Topeka 66617. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.