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Samuel John Spath Sam was born September 10, 1949, the third of five children born to Rev. Levon and Florence Spath, in Tandil, Argentina and spent his childhood years in Buenos Aires and Azul, Argentina where his parents were Lutheran missionaries. As a teenager, his family moved from Argentina to Santiago, Chile and eventually moved to Bloomfield, N. J. He attended Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. While in college, he was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Sam began his working career in sales for a manufacturing company in the New Jersey area marketing machine tooling. Sam was particularly suited to sales because of his ability to connect with people through his strong character, technical expertise, energy, and sense of humor. He was an avid story teller and was never at a loss for words. He taught himself the intricacies of computer programming and became an advisor for the rest of this family. He retired from Kamatics in Connecticut in 2014. Sam has one daughter, Kimberly Alison Spath. In 2005, Sam met Bridget Mary Mullarkey, and they married on August 31, 2013. The couple moved from Connecticut to South Carolina where they spent many happy hours walking the sandy beaches and enjoying the ocean. Sam will always be remembered for storytelling, and his ability to make others laugh, and his steel trap memory. He was an unabashed practical joker who loved to tease. He will be remembered for this loving support to his extended family and constant communication with them even though they were scattered out across the country. Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Bridget, his daughter Kimberly and William Shea, granddaughter Allie Shea, Southington, CT, stepson John and Mandy Mullarkey, grandsons Liam and Jamie Mullarkey, Naperville, IL. He is also survived by sisters Sue and Osvaldo Hirschmann, Houston, TX and Mary and Dick Crabtree, Pickstown, SD, brothers Daniel, Eugene, OR and Thomas, Houston, TX in addition to many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Florence and Levon Spath. The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 PM and 4:00 to 6:00 PM Saturday December 16, 2017 at Goldfinch Funeral Home Beach Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm Sunday, December 17, 2017 at Goldfinch Funeral Home Beach Chapel, 11528 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrell’s Inlet, SC 29576. Telephone: (843) 651-3295 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 950 48th Ave. N, Suite 101, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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Samuel John Spath

September 10, 1949 - December 6, 2017