Samuel Robert Feronti

Samuel Robert Feronti, 88, of Edmond, OK, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 17^th, 2024. Sam, also known as Bobby in his youth, was born September 1^st, 1935 in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania to James and Donna Keller Feronti. Sam was born ninth of sixteen children, and nine was his lucky number; his mother was 29-years old when he was born in the ninth month of the year, his parents married on the 29^th of June, his basketball uniform was number nine, and he was co-captain of the Johnsonburg High School basketball team, which under his captainship, won their first basketball trophy as District 9 Champs in 1952-53.

On February 10^th, 1954, Sam entered the U.S. Navy, marking the beginning of a fulfilling, high-achieving military career. He sailed the world and served aboard the U.S.S. McGowan, a Fletcher-class destroyer. After 3 years and 10 months in the Navy, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he rapidly rose in rank. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and most notably, the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service as the Superintendent for the Telecommunications Branch at Ubon Airfield, Thailand. Earning the nickname “the Hippie Chief,” Sam was one of the youngest men at the time to be promoted to Chief Master Sergeant.

After twenty years of service, Sam retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1975. Upon retirement, he returned to school and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1980. Then, he worked at Burns/Pinkerton Security Services for twenty-two years, until he retired in 2002.

After his second retirement, Sam maintained an active lifestyle filled with family and friends. In 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, irrevocably changing life as he knew it. This was due to nuclear radiation exposure from witnessing 31 atomic bomb detonations for Operation Dominic on Christmas Island in 1962. Sam was an Atomic Veteran and a 100% Disabled Combat-Related Veteran. After beating cancer, Sam continued persevering as a wonderful husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, and kind soul to all he met. And through it all, he always carried himself with class.

He is survived by his loving wife, Hyon Ae Feronti. He is also survived by his six children, Angelina Hong Feronti, Ava Marie Feronti, Bob Feronti (Ratana), Donald Patrick Feronti (Lauri), Marlene Feronti Judy (Matthew), Samuel Robert Feronti Jr. (Ida), his three brothers, Noel “Noey” Feronti, Richard “Rich” Feronti, and Thomas “Tom” Feronti, his two sisters, Nicolina Anne Stahli and Charlene Feronti Leidwinger, eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, three sisters, and a granddaughter.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 21^st, 2024 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Smith & Kernke Funeral Homes and Crematory. A military funeral will follow at 2:00pm at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, OK.