Samuel Roy Dodson, Jr., 60, of Lititz, went to his final rest on October 12th, 2012 with his wife and three sons by his side following an arduous but unrelenting struggle with Stage IV Melanoma.  The Hospice of Lancaster County provided care and support during his final days.

Samuel was born in Lancaster on June 12, 1952 to the late Samuel R. Dodson Sr and the late Janet Braas Dodson and was a life-long resident of Manheim Township.  He attended Lancaster Catholic High School, and graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1970 and Millersville University in 1974 with a BA in History.  During the next 38 years, he excelled as a sales associate for several home improvement and financial services institutions, including LM Martin, NASE Insurance, Knox Financial Group, and Home National Mortgage.  In 2003, he founded Old Guard Mortgage and Financial Services, which specialized in home mortgages for credit-challenged applicants and home buyer education.  While he was frequently acknowledged for his sales performance, he was renowned for his compassionate and understanding approach to each client, assisting every person who approached him for help and advice. He informally retired in 2011 to focus on his cancer treatments.

"Sammy D" was perpetually active in his community by coaching baseball for nearly 25 years, serving on the Manheim Township School Board for 10 years, and serving extended stays on the MT Baseball Association, the MT Parks and Recreation, and the Overlook Foundation Boards. In addition, he is a past president and member of the Lafayette Lions Club.  His most important service to the community was his role as "second father" to the friends of his children, as the Dodson home was often the site of countless family dinners, movie nights, and lengthy back porch conversations.  As a father and husband, Sam was a caring, jovial, quick-witted optimist who insisted on pointing out the silver-lining of even the most dire situations.  There was never a wasted day, never a dull moment, and he relished every bit of his life right until the end.

In his free time, Sam focused on his wife, his sons, his granddaughter, and the circle of people that surrounded them. His off-hours were filled with thousands of movies, Phillies and Eagles games, APBA baseball, John Tiller strategy games, 5000+ piece puzzles, games of catch with his sons, never-ending home renovations, and hundreds of athletic and theater events his children took part in.  Though he traveled to many corners of the globe, his heart always remained in Rehoboth Beach, DE, where family and friends have vacationed together for nearly 30 years and will ultimately be his final resting place.

After his terminal diagnosis was received in December of 2011, Samuel was blessed with an incredible outpouring of support from family, friends, and the local community. Everyone's contributions, which allowed for family vacations to Disney World, Rehoboth Beach, and New England, not to mention the countless meals, words of encouragement, and thoughtfulness, were much appreciated. With your love and support, we were able to maximize our time with our husband, father, and friend, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Samuel is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Regina Martin Dodson, of Lititz; son Ryan Christopher and wife Sacha, of Lancaster; son Thomas Courtney and wife Tiffany, and Sam's granddaughter Mallory of Lititz; son Paul Samuel, of Lititz, currently attending college in Boston; and family friend who was loved as a daughter, Amber Nauman, of Lititz, attending school in Philadelphia. He is also survived by brother Michael and wife Patricia, of Lancaster; and sister Diana and her caretaker Beth Miller, of Lancaster, as well as countless in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Preceding him in death is his brother Mark Dodson.

Relatives, friends, and associates are invited to attend a visitation to be held on Thursday, October 18th from 9:30 to 11:30, which will be followed by a ceremony and eulogy by officiant Dr. Kevin Singer in the chapel of Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA, 17604, or to any neighbor, organization, or individual in need of assistance, in memory of Sam.  To place a condolence online, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100