Sam Houston Gilbreath, 87, passed from this world and into his eternal home of heaven on August 30, 2024 at Whispering Pines Nursing and Rehab in Winnsboro, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, TX. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the services. Interment will follow at Rockhill Cemetery in Yantis, Texas, with Austin Hebert, Steven Glass, Landon Peeples, Heston Peeples, Ben Crump, Tim Crump, and Adam Crump serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are his granddaughters, Tisha Young, Kaitlyn Hebert, Brittney Peeples, and all the loving CNAs and nurses who cared for Sam during the last five years.
Sam was born on April 26, 1937, to Melvin and Lydia Gilbreath in Wood County, Texas. He retired from the City of Commerce, where he worked as the manager of the water department. Sam loved music and entertained the residents, staff, and guests at the nursing facility with his tapes and CD collection. He loved people and was always busy helping someone in any way possible. He would give his last dollar to someone in need.
Sam married Martha Bernice Crump in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 29, 1983. When Sam married Bernice, he had no children of his own, but the following year without hesitation, committed to help Bernice raise three grandchildren under the age of three. He would later adopt those three children, becoming legally their father. Sam would tell people until his last days, that it was the best decision of his life, raising and being a father to his three children.
Sam is survived by his son, Charles Gilbreath of Quitman, Texas; daughters, Stacie Hebert of Westlake, Louisiana, Dana Peeples and husband, Tim of Saltillo, Texas; daughter-in-law, Becky Glass of Commerce, Texas; grandchildren, Tisha Young and husband Eddie, CJ Glass and wife Amber, Adam Hermann, Steven Glass and wife Virginia, Billy Glass, Austin Hebert, Kaitlyn Hebert, Aiden Shannon, Zander Shannon, Sam Heston Peeples, Landon Peeples, Brittney Peeples, Cody Peeples, Alex Ferrell; 13 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren; brothers, Truitt Gilbreath and wife Beulah of Crowley, Texas, Robert Mullins and wife Deanna of Caldwell, Idaho, sister, Juanita Haynes of Irving, Texas; brother-in-law, Ed Crump and wife Betty of Pecan Gap, Texas; and a multitude of nieces and nephews who adored their uncle.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Gilbreath; step-sons, Gary Adams and Charlie Glass; parents, Melvin and Lydia Gilbreath; infant brother, Robert D. Gilbreath; step-father, Robert Mullins; brother-in-law, Lonnie Haynes; and four-legged companions, Bart and Baby.
The family would like to thank all of the men and women who have helped care for Mr. Gilbreath throughout the last five years of his life. Also a special thank you to Whispering Pines and Choice Hospice for the amazing care.
