Samuel "Buddy" Reece died peacefully on April 30th, 2025.  He was born in Appalachia, Va on May 21, 1925.  He lacked a few weeks being 100 years old.  He would marry his sweetheart, Nell Elkins, on April 4, 1947, and God would bless them with 78 years together.

Samuel was a WWII Navy Veteran.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 where he would serve, as a gunner, on a Liberty Ship.  He would serve in both the European and Pacific Theater.  He also was there on D-Day where his ship would transport troops.

When the war ended Samuel would return home where he would meet his wife and together they would return to serve, but this time in the Air Force.  He would serve both here and abroad as an Aircraft Electrician.  He would later become part of a Missile Crew and ending his career 28 years later as a superintendent for the Titan Missile Training Section, with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.  Stationed at Vandenberg AFB where he would retire in Lompoc.

Samuel is survived by his wife Nell Reece, daughter Carla Peterson, granddaughter Sammie Payne, grandsons Carl and Cory Peterson, great-grandsons Ethan, Hunter and Cooper Payne, Dylan, Teddy and Caleb Peterson.  Great granddaughters, Autumn, Piper and Carly Peterson.  Preceded in death by his parents Carl and Ivy Reece.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel, on May 26th, 2025, at 1:00pm.