Samuel D. "Sam" Tong, 90, died on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. at Richland Manor Nursing Home, Bluffton.
He was born on May 23, 1923, near Carey, Ohio to Joseph B. and Dorotha (Pratt) Tong and they preceded him in death. During his life he was married to Virginia Reese, Rosalind Rhoden, Betty Risner, and Betty Loop.
On January 9, 1989, he married Carole Jett Shaw and they just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. She survives in Ada.
He was a 1941 graduate of Wharton High School where he was starting guard on the league champion basketball team. After high school, he worked for Autolite in Fostoria. He then served in the Merchant Marines from 1943 to 1945 transporting military shipments in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and South Pacific. After the war he owned and operated a grocery store in Findlay, and then drove truck for Ohio Oil in Findlay.
Mr. Tong was a sales agent for Western & Southern Life Insurance Company for 32 years. He drove school bus for the Ada Exempted Village Schools, his favorite job, for 14 years.
After retirement he and his wife, Carole, opened Smells Good, Inc. He was a member of Grace Gospel Church, Ada.
Also surviving are a son, Dave (Gloria) Tong of Moscow, Idaho; two daughters: Candy Ferrante (Bob Saint John) of Wataugua, Texas and Deanna (Don) Essinger of Bluffton; two step sons, Ed (Heidi) Shaw of Ada, and Jim (Linda) Loop of New River, Ariz.; four step daughters: Jeanne (James) McKee of Ada, Darla (Ron) Dicus of Portage, Bonnie (John) Haney of Ada and Vickie Loop (Mike) Brantley of West Point, N.Y.; 19 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Richard "Dick" Tong of Port Clinton.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Effie Rader Sloan and Donna Mathewson; a brother, Kenneth Tong; son-in-law, John Ferrante.
Memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Grace Gospel Church of Ada with Pastor Trent Boedicker officiating. A luncheon will follow the service. Sam's ashes were interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ada.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Gospel Church of Ada.
