Thomas Samuel (Sam) Luckey

Thomas Samuel "Sam" Luckey, 72, of Columbia, SC, died Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at Palmetto Baptist after a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be Monday, March 2, 2015 at 1pm, with funeral services at 2pm, at Kornegay & Moseley, 4645 Hardscrabble Road, Columbia, SC, with Reverend Bill Sasser officiating. Interment will be Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 11am in Fort Jackson National Cemetery with full military honors.

Sam Luckey was born January 21, 1943 in Albany, GA.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Barfield Luckey, who was born in Camilla, GA, and Marjorie Belle Pitts who was born in Albany, GA; brother, Donald "Don" Barfield Luckey; step-mother, Edna Elizabeth Bennett Luckey of Albany, GA; his paternal grandparents, Thomas Jefferson Luckey and Ethel Lee Hart of Camilla, GA; and his maternal grandparents, Robert Lee Pitts and Minnie Lee Bouchelle of Albany, GA. 

He graduated from Albany High School with the Class of 1961 and then graduated from North Georgia College, Dahlonega, GA. in 1966 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.  He subsequently graduated from Webster University, St. Louis, MO,  in 1980 with a M.A. degree in Health Facilities Management. 

After graduating from North Georgia College he was commissioned as a US Army Medical Service Corps officer and began what was to become a twenty-seven year career in the U. S. Army Medical Department, beginning as a 2nd Lieutenant and ending as a Lieutenant Colonel .  During his military career he and his family worked and lived in many places that included the US Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA; Chu Lai/Duc Pho in South Viet Nam; Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX; Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC; Gorgas Hospital in the Canal Zone, Panama; Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

His military schooling included The US Army Medical Service Corps Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; The US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS; The US Army Personnel Officer Course, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; The US Army Officer's Senior Legal Course, Charlottesville, VA; The US Army Inspector General Course, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as well as several smaller schools and courses.

Lieutenant Colonel Luckey earned many awards and decorations during his military career. These included the Legion of Merit; four Meritorious Service Medals; three Army Commendation Medals; the Army Achievement  Medal; the National Defense Service Medal w/bronze star; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; two Humanitarian Service Medals; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; the Expert Field Medal Badge; Vietnam Service Medal w/four service stars; Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After his retirement from the US Army in 1993 he and his wife, Gail, remained in Columbia, South Carolina.  It was at this time he began employment with the State of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control [DHEC], Home Health Services Division. While working with the Home Health Services Division he provided his expertise in finance, legal, supply and administrative services.  After twelve years with DHEC he decided upon permanent retirement in 2005.

In retirement, Sam continued to pursue his many interests, including his passion for genealogy, a collector of anything about eagles, his enjoyment of running, coin collecting, reading, movies, listening to all types of music and his delight of jaunting everywhere on the Internet searching for all types of information.  

Sam Luckey is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Cheryl Gail McDaniel Luckey; their two daughters, Mrs. "Lynn" Marie Luckey Carrillo and her husband Jesse of San Antonio, TX;  Mrs. Elizabeth "Beth" Louise Luckey Dennis and her husband Richard of Columbia, SC; and their five grandchildren, Nate Carrillo and Katelyn Carrillo of San Antonio, TX, Hannah Dennis, Georgia Dennis and Scarlett Dennis of Columbia, SC. He is also survived by his sisters, Mrs. Emily "Cecile" Luckey Newsome and her husband John of Titusville, FL and Mrs. Ether "Leigh" Luckey Davis of Albany, GA;  step-brother Robert Charles Luckey and his wife Kelly of Peachtree City, GA;  step-sisters Mrs. Barbara "Bobbie" Houston Cohen and her husband Barry of Albany, GA and Mrs. "Therlus" Cleone Houston Deen and her husband Jimmy of Albany, GA.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans Association, 511 Violet Street, West Columbia, SC 29171, the American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311 or to your favorite charity.

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