age 84, was promoted to glory on April 19, 2007. Born Howard Samuel Crowder on January 19, 1923 in Bessemer, Alabama, Sam was the son of John Thomas Crowder and Rosa Lee Goolsby. He is preceded in death by his parents, and six siblings. Sam and his wife Vonceil have lived in the Houston area for a number of years since retiring to be near their grandchildren Doug and Eric. Prior to Texas he had lived in Clearwater Florida near his daughter, MaryAnn. On June 12, 1942, Sam married Vonceil Latham, a union that has lasted just a few months short of 65 years. With the outbreak of WWII, Sam enlisted and served proudly in the United States Army Air Corps, as an explosive ordnance disassembly (EOD) specialist, serving the Pacific theater. Upon his return to Alabama after the war, he rejoined his loving wife, and gained employment in Tennessee Coal and Iron Company as a steel worker, following the vein of his father and older brothers. Sam proudly claimed being a sixth generation Alabamian. He entered the Salvation Army School for Officers' Training in Atlanta, Georgia in 1951 with Vonceil in response to God's calling him to service in another Army. His official service with The Salvation Army began on May 12, 1952 when he and Vonceil were commissioned (ordained as ministers) Sam served God and the Salvation Army in various appointments, starting with Florence, Alabama. Other appointments included Statesville, NC; Griffin, GA; Sand Springs and Shawnee, OK; Staunton, Fredericksburg, and Danville, VA; Laurel and Vicksburg, MS; Lafayette, LA; Decatur, AL; ending the career of active ministry with a return to Vicksburg before retirement. In each command, Sam made contributions which have made indelible impressions on the lives of individuals for the Kingdom of God and for The Army. He was a unique individual who didn't mind marching to the beat of a different drummer, sometimes in an entirely different band! In retirement, Sam pursued his passion as a Civil War historian, actively participating as a re-enactor suttler (merchant) following the trail of the historical battlefields of the South. Sam believed in what General Stonewall Jackson, one of his heroes said "You may be whatever you resolve to be". He was often known to quote, in minute detail, the incidents of the proud history of the South related to the Civil War. General Stonewall Jackson was his noteworthy example of leadership and ability to get the job done, no matter what it involved. Sam will be greatly missed by his loving wife Vonceil, who remains in Houston; his daughter Dr Mary Ann Crowder and husband Nicholas Stefanchik, Clearwater, Florida; his son Sam, Jr. and his wife Pat, Houston; and three grandchildren: Jim Teixeira and wife Angela residing in Glendale, Arizona; Doug Crowder, Sunnyvale California and Eric Crowder of Houston, TX. He leaves two great-grandchildren: Ashley and Kaitlin Teixeira of Arizona, as well as many family and friends within the Salvation Army officers, Advisory Board members, and friends from across the Southland. The family would like to thank the caring and professional staff of Parkway Place, Houston, as well as VITAS Hospice for the care provided to him with compassion shown to Major Sam at this, his critical promotion to Glory transition. Visitation will be at Valhalla Funeral Home Chapel, 5317 Bessemer Super Highway, Midfield, AL 35228 on Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. At 2:00 pm, the funeral service will be conducted by his longtime friend, Major Dan Proctor of Richmond, VA, at the Valhalla Chapel at 2:00 pm. Upon the "promotion to glory", interment services will be at Valhalla Cemetery, with both Salvation Army and US military honors.