Clarence John "Bill" Sams, 85, of Hampstead, passed away Tuesday May 5, 2015 at his home.

Born February 24, 1930 in Parkersburg, WV, he was the son of the late Richard Francis and Ursula Margaret Nolen Sams. He was the husband of Janet Ruby Sams, his wife of 42 years.

He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Army. Prior to retirement, he had worked at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore, had owned a service station and had driven a Capital Bakery truck and a Good Humor truck. He retired as a chief investigator with the Motor Vehicle Administration. He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Hampstead. He had formerly been a Mason.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughters and son-in-law, Diane and Arthur Stanley of Westminster and Pamela Harford of Miami, FL; son and daughter-in-law, Bryan and Deborah Sams of Westminster; grandchildren, Jonathan Harford of Manchester, Jake Woodward of Westminster, Brittany Woodward of Reisterstown and Steven Seal of Houston, TX; three great-grandchildren; and sister, Sharon Shehan of Essex.

The family will receive friends Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Eline Funeral Home, 934 South Main Street, Hampstead and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 10 a.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church, 1205 North Main Street, Hampstead with the Rev. Dr. Melissa Rudolph officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Finksburg.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. John's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 185, Hampstead, MD 21074 or Carroll Hospice, Inc., 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157.