Samuel Twibell
How do you know Samuel? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
Samuel Brannum Twibell (Sam) was born on February 18, 1933 to Robert Brannum Twibell and Amelia Nalley Twibell in Sheridan, TX. He had one older brother and two older sisters.
Sam spent his boyhood in and around Kilgore, TX. He smoked grapestems, and broke his arm, and later dated Kilgore Jr. College Rangerettes. His father died when Sam was only 9. Sam liked to say that he graduated third in his high school class, adding after a short pause, "...out of a total of four".
Drafted into the army during the Korean War, he served as a radar operator at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA. His buddy was dating a nursing student and eventually he met her roommate, Jan Turner. Both couples married and remained great friends throughout their lives.
Living in many places, from Seattle to Honolulu, Missoula to Houston, "following the work" as a pipefitter, they finally settled down in the house Sam helped build, and have lived in Snohomish, WA for the last 45 years.
He held many different positions through the years, including foreman, general foreman, and superintendent on refineries, North Sea oil platforms, a coal-fired powerhouse, and the Trident Nuclear Training Facility, along with being an instructor and Apprenticeship Coordinator for the pipefitters union, local 26.
He had a dry wit and usually a poem or saying to fit the occasion. He was an avid reader, and an avid tryer of all sorts of things. He developed skills from roofing to hunting, woodworking to wiring a house, shooting guns, beekeeping, welding, sailing, and getting hugs from pretty girls. He loved sharing all the interesting wonders of the world with his children, and had a keen curiosity. He got his pilot's license in the '60s and had a two-seat Aeronca Champ airplane, until the dignosis of diabetes put an end to his flying. He was "Grandpa Sam" to the kids he read to at the ECEAP Preschool, one of the projects he worked on with the Tillicum Kiwanis which he enjoyed during his retirement.
He attended Snohomish First Presbyterian Church since the 1980s.
He passed away on December 29, 2020 in Everett, Washington surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janet Turner Twibell; three children, Nancy Lewis (Warren) of Spokane, WA, Douglas Goodman (Qing) of Everett, WA, and Patricia Hiebert (Ryan) of Shafter, CA; six grandchildren, Natalie Weber, Andrea Hixson (Spokane), Ben Lewis (Seattle), Michael Hiebert (Lafaette, CA), Daniel Hiebert (Bend, OR), and Steven Hiebert (Shafter, CA); plus five great-grandchildren; as well as nephews and nieces, Russell Krienke, Janie Terrell, Rita Knox, Robin Wakum, and Kirk Krienke, all of Texas.
As a sample of his wit, when asked by his daughter what the difference was between pecans and walnuts, he replied, "If you don't know the difference, you can't have any pecans."
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in his name to Samaritan's Purse or Snohomish First Presbyterian Church.