Samuel Joseph Felton, 94, passed away on March 22, 2019, in Urbana, Ill.

Mr. Felton was born in Whaleyville (now Suffolk), son of John E. Felton (deceased) and Cennie Lee Felton (deceased), and spent his childhood years in Whaleyville. He graduated from Whaleyville High School and served in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1950. He taught agriculture at Holland High School in Holland , and served as vice principal. He joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1964 and served in St. Louis, Mo., Los Angeles, Calif., and Norfolk, where he retired. He married Maybelle Umberger (deceased), of Wytheville in 1951.

Surviving are three daughters, Leellen F. Solter (Philip), of Urbana, Ill., Denise M.F. Crane (Carter), of Phoenix, Ariz., and Ann J.F. Griffin (Allan), of Hollister, Calif. Mr. Felton is also survived by grandchildren, Alec S. Griffin (Nicole), Aaron R. Griffin, Andrew M. Griffin (Tamar), Allacyn L. Griffin-May (Harley), Etta F.C. Cowdrey (Sean), Evan J. Crane and Ravi M. Solter; great-grandchildren Aaden and Addison Griffin, Gray and Tali Griffin and Yvonne Cowdrey; as well as his and Maybelle’s beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Grubb Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Pastor Joe Shumate, with interment to follow in the St. John’s Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 p.m. until service time.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a memorial gift, please consider St. Jude’s Hospital for Children (262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org) or St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund in Wytheville. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.