Earldine Robison Sampson

Earldine Robison Sampson, 98, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. She was born June 18, 1923, in Russell, Iowa, to Earl and Mildred Judy Robison. She and her sisters, Eleanor and Mona, grew up in a series of Iowa towns where her father was a printer. Her parents were musicians and Earldine followed in her mother’s footsteps in vocal music, involved in choral, small group and solo activities.

Following graduation from Colo High School, Earldine enrolled in a two-year teacher program at what is now the University of Northern Iowa. After teaching for five years, she returned to complete a bachelor’s degree in 1950 with majors in Kindergarten-Primary Education and Speech Correction.

She served as a consultant in Speech and Hearing with the Iowa State Department of Public Instruction and then as speech therapist in the Des Moines Public Schools. She received her Master of Science in Education degree from Drake University in 1954. Earldine married Wesley C. Sampson in 1953 and they became parents of Ann and Lisa.

When her husband was on the faculty of Northern Illinois University, Earldine was awarded a Fellowship in the Doctoral Program in Education. With a return to Iowa, she was on the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa and Wartburg College, served a two-year stint as counselor at alma mater Colo High School, and joined the elementary Education Department of Iowa State University, where she was tenured. There, the Student Alumni Association honored her with an Outstanding Advisor award. Earldine treasured her lasting friendships with former students. She also was included in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women.

Retirement brought new activities, and she created “Glimpses Along Life’s Way,” a public presentation of favorite bits of literature and poetry collected through the years.

Survivors include husband, Wesley; daughters, Ann (Olaf) Sampson Scholten of Peize, The Netherlands, and Lisa Sampson Wenger of Arlington, Virginia; granddaughters, Laura Scholten, and Claire and Cynthia Wenger.

Earldine requested cremation. Interment will be at Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames, Iowa. Online condolences to reebfuneralhome.com.

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