Our Father's Passing

J. Sam Biedler's Passing

December 27, 2007

Dr. J. Samuel Biedler, 87, died on December 15, 2007 at home in Chesterfield, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was born on October 25, 1920 in Princeton, West Virginia and was the son of Daniel and Carrie Banks Biedler, the youngest of three children, Martha Cain and Nell Hagenbuch.

He preferred to be called Sam. Sam is survived by his wife of 38 years, Frances Mider Biedler. Their surviving children are Dawn S. Kieper of Chesterfield, VA, and Peter M. Biedler of Charlottesville, VA. Sam and his former wife, Elizabeth Peebles Biedler are survived by their children Mary Martha Williams of Burlington, KS, Elizabeth Karen Alexander of Lopez Island, WA, Daniel Van Morgan Biedler of Phoenix, AZ, and John S. Biedler, Jr. of Decatur, IL. Sam is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Deborah Corrington, Jonathan Williams, Amy Williams, Sarah Alexander, Daniel and Lori Alexander, Daniel Craig, and Sean Biedler, Kimberly Schutz, Alexander Kieper, and thirteen great-grandchildren.



Sam earned his Bachelor of Science Degree, magna cum laude, in 1942 from West Virginia Institute of Technology in Industrial Arts and Social Science. Then earned a Master of Arts Degree with Honors in 1952 from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio in Industrial Arts and Teacher Education. Sam furthered his education by earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Teacher Education and Social Administration in 1958 from The Ohio State University.


An educator for his entire life and career, he chose schools and school projects that allowed him to serve others.


First, the public schools in Stow, Ohio

followed by Kent State University in Ohio who offered him teaching and administrative opportunities.



















Party at the Biedler home on the ISAT campus on Panay Island, The Philippines 1960. Daughter Mary is seated far left front row. Youngest son (John) is kneeling on the ground in front of the adults with his friend Roger Finch.


He joined Stanford University's Team for ICA (now called USAID) to develop education opportunities in the Philippines and Thailand. Kent also developed a teacher education school in East Africa, Tanzania where Sam spent four years.

A university consortium centered at University of Pittsburgh offered him a two year directorship of their study abroad program. There he guided foreign students to our country to further their education.

Sam traveled around the world twice focusing on the crafts and tools used by craftsmen at work everywhere. He applied some of those ideas to his own work including the design and building of a home in Ohio, later the renovation of a Biedler homestead in the Shenandoah Valley. Sam also had a love of nature and taught all those he was in contact with the principles of conservation and ecology. His land ownership always respected the preservation of nature. Retired since 1980, Sam was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau, The American Industrial Arts Association, and Kappa Delta Pi. Sam was an Emeritus Professor at Kent State University, Kent Ohio.

Sam opened his heart to so many people of all ages around the world. He shared his love of the outdoors and taught others to live a meaningful life. To Sam, we love you, we miss you and God bless you. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 1 PM at Christ Church Episcopal, 16 Amiss Street, Luray, Virginia by the Reverend Daniel Robayo. Memorial contributions on his behalf may be made to the Nature Conservancy, Charlottesville, Virginia; Parkinson's Disease Foundation, or Bon Secours Hospice, Richmond, Virginia. (RC 12/26/2007, 12/27/2007)






ENDNOTE: All six children gathered in April 2008 in Luray, VA for a memorial service and internment of ashes.