Samuel Wayne Harbin, 85, of Springfield, MO passed away on January 1, 2014 at Mercy Hospital after a short and sudden illness. Born on August 22, 1928 in Puxico, MO to Ada Marie Shelton and Samuel Weston Harbin, Sam attended the Puxico High School and graduated from the Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California. He earned a BS and Masters Degree in Education from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College in Cape Girardeau, MO; a doctorate in Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL; a Masters in Banking and Finance at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. He also served in the United States Army as a Master Sergeant.

On November 15, 1952 in Sedalia, MO Sam married Della Rinehart who remained his loving faithful partner for more than 61 years. Sam worked as an educator and high school principal in Cypress, IL and Sikeston, MO; a Vice President at the Bank of Sikeston; the Superintendent of Schools in Sikeston and the Egyptian School District in Mounds and Cairo, IL; consultant to the Illinois State Board of Education and numerous private clients; President of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri School Superintendents Association and numerous professional, civic, state, and charitable groups, organizations, and clubs.

Preceding Sam in death are his Parents, five brothers, and one sister.

He is survived by his wife and friend Del Harbin, three children, Julie Carol Harbin of Belleville, Ontario, Canada, Kenneth Wayne Harbin of Paducah, KY and Lauren Sue Phillips Springfield, MO, one brother Edward Harbin of Hays, KS one sister Ella Robertson of Westminster, CA, five grandsons Samuel Henry Cook, Houston, TX Ryan Woodrow Phillips, Rapid City, SD, 1st Lt Evan Daniel Tillman Phillips San Diego, CA Taylor William Harbin Paducah, KY Jordan Wesley Harbin, Paducah, KY; one great grandson, Royce Phillips, Rapid City, SD and one expected great grandson, Cole Tillman Phillips, San Diego, CA.

Private services will be conducted by the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte in Springfield, MO with interment and full military honors to follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery. Donations may be made in honor of Sam to the St. Jude Children''s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

He will be dearly missed as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.