Good bye, Sam . . . for now

Our friend, Sam McDill, passed from this life and entered into the presence of Jesus last week. I'm going to miss seeing Sam come in the side door with his daughter and sit in the front row. He was always warm and encouraging to this young pastor.

Good bye, Sam . . for now.

Rev. Dr. Samuel McDill 1916 ~ 2008 The Reverend Dr. Samuel McDill, 91, died peacefully of natural causes in San Luis Obispo on Monday, March 10, 2008. Sam was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., the third of five children. He lived a full and varied life. At the Chicago World Fair, the then 18 year old assisted handling pythons for the film star and wild life adventurer, Frank Buck. Shortly thereafter he enrolled at the Moody Bible Institute in preparation for a life of pastoral service. In 1941 he married his sweetheart, Lois Tatter of Chicago, who was at his side during a successful life of founding and growing church congregations in Chicago; Hammond, Ind.; Watsonville and Santa Barbara. He also taught at The Moody Bible Institute and helped found and organize the "Youth for Christ" ministry. Many years later he attended Pepperdine University and The American Institute of Family Relations, became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, developed a successful practice in the Santa Barbara area, and was a contributor to The Ladies Home Journal, having authored the column "Can this marriage be saved?" Sam was member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, The Christian Association of Psychological Studies and the Moody Bible Institute Alumni Association. He studied at Fuller Theological Seminary and earned the D.Min. degree. Sam will be remembered by his family as a wise and loving parent, who enjoyed family gatherings that were enriched by his fund of stories and tales of his travels. He is fondly remembered by many pastors and laity across the country as a mentor who loved his God with all his heart, and who worked ceaselessly to spread the Good News of the Gospel. He is survived by his younger brother, Tom; sister, Ruth; daughters Carol (Robert) Misson of San Luis Obispo and Laurel Gephart of Morgan Hill; son, Dr. Brik (Lynn) McDill of Tehachapi; six grandchildren Christine Reed, Andrew Jennings, Steven Gephart, Laura Libby, Erin Weeks and Lindsey McDill; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Lois Tatter McDill. He bore his long final illness with characteristic grace and fortitude. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at Welch Ryce Hader Funeral home in Santa Barbara. He will be interred next to Lois, overlooking the beaches where they walked, hand in hand, in love with each other and with the beauty of Creation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Moody Bible Institute Counseling Center. Published in the San Luis Obispo Tribune on 3/16/2008.