Samuel Barkley Napier, Jr.

Spring Grove Funeral Home is assisting the Family

Obituary via Spring Grove Funeral Home

Samuel B. Napier Jr., age 90, loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle, passed peacefully Sunday morning, November 16, 2025, at home with his daughters by his side.

Sam was born December 4, 1934, in Pineville, KY, to Samuel B. Napier, Sr. and Mattie Napier (Williams) and was preceded in death by his wife Juanita Napier (Litton) (1978) and Phyllis Napier (King) (2017) and sisters Penny Stewart and Mary DuVall.

Survived by daughters Debbie Napier-Rueger, Donna Jones, Denise Schwartz, stepson Roger Gross, six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Sam volunteered for service in the National Guard at the age of 14 and immediately realized he didn’t much enjoy it. He then volunteered in the United States Navy at 17, got kicked out after six months of service only to re-enlist at required age of 18 and served for four years during Korean war on USS Bennington (CVA-20) and USS Lake Champlain, Airman Prep (9/52-10/52) Aviation Boatsman (11/52-3/53) receiving the National Defense Service Medal, and Navy Occupation Service Medal.

Sam enjoyed his church family, gardening, collecting coins, Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, and “feeding the horses” aka horse racing.

Services for Sam will be held Monday, November 24 at Winton Road First Church of God 6200 Winton Road, Fairfield, OH. Visitation: 10:30 am, Services: 11:30 am.

Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery, 2155 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, OH.