Samuel "Sam" Jerome Basham Jr.

BASHAM Samuel “Sam” Jerome Basham, Jr. passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2015. He was born on February 25th, 1927 to Samuel Jerome Basham, Sr. and Louise R. Small in Adairville Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ellen Barnard Basham and by his sister Emily Basham Walker. He graduated from high school in 1944 and joined the Navy in January, 1945. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1948 where a classmate introduced him to his future wife. He married Ellen Ruth Barnard on August 8th, 1949 in Franklin, Kentucky. He decided to pursue another career path and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in August, 1953. At that point he began a 40 year career in research and development and project management with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering from The Ohio State University in 1970. He was a past Chairman of the Nuclear Engineering Division of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). He was elected as a Life Fellow of the ASME and was in Who’s Who of the Midwest Scientists and Engineers 1984/85. He was elected to the Science Fiction First Fandom Hall of Fame. He was an avid reader of science fiction, science, history and theology and had an extensive collection of science fiction books. He was also a collector of stamps and coins. He was a Boy Scout beginning in 1939 and served in many capacities for that organization over the years including Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and as a District Chairman. He was a lifelong member of The United Methodist Church. Sam is survived by his son George A. Basham and his wife Jana McGlade Basham, his daughter Emily A. Basham and her husband John W. Grenier, his grandson Eric S. Basham and his wife Emily Ory Basham, and his granddaughter Elizabeth K. Basham. He was the rock of his family, was deeply loved, and will be missed more than words can express. A service will be held at Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High Street, Worthington, Ohio at 4:00 pm Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Rev. Eric McGlade officiating. Family will receive friends from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm service time Wednesday. Burial Friday in Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, TN.

Samuel "Sam" Jerome Basham Jr.

February 25, 1927 - March 7, 2015