Samuel Hartley, of Traverse City, Michigan, died peacefully at home on June 18, 2024. He was 96. Sam was born on August 12, 1927, the son of Ralph and Lillie Mae (Galbreath) Hartley in Noblesville, Indiana. He was married to his beloved wife, Alberta Ann (Bultema) Hartley, for 25 years.

Sam lived at the Village of Bay Ridge in Traverse City, MI, for seventeen years. He enjoyed the independent living community and made dear friends among residents and staff, especially Margie, Susan, Mary Kay, and Katie. The family is very grateful for the care and support he received at Bay Ridge.

Sam is remembered for his humor, friendliness, love of adventure, tenacity, and patriotism. Always a gentleman, he was a favorite among the ladies of Bay Ridge. He highly valued education and was a lifelong learner, writer, and reader. He loved to travel, especially by train, where he could watch the country glide past. As a son of the Great Depression, Sam practiced thrift and worked long hours to provide for his family. In later life, he enjoyed walking, family visits, Wendy's Chocolate Frosties, and his Converse sneakers.

A veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict, Sam was awarded the Navy Combat Ribbon with five battle stars and letters of commendation.

During WWII, when Sam was 15 and too young to enlist, he used a false birth certificate to join the Navy. His mother found him in basic training and took him home. The following year, after graduating high school and with his mother's blessing, he enlisted again. He and his best friend, Aldeen Bahnmiller. had many adventures while stationed in California and the Pacific. He soon earned the designation of Qualified Submariner. Though he served on other submarines and ships, his first and favorite assignment was aboard the submarine USS Scabbardfish SS 379. The Scabbardfish patrolled the South Pacific, and he longed to return one day to visit the islands he saw while standing night watch.


After the Navy, he earned an ABS degree in Business and Accounting from Jackson College in Jackson, MI. He was hired by Interstate Motor Freight, where he had a long and successful career, and retired after 34 years as Regional Vice President.

When he retired, Sam fulfilled his dream of returning to the South Pacific by joining the Peace Corps and spending two years in Magallanes, Mindanao, the Philippines. His fiancee, Alberta, joined him there, and they were married in a traditional Philippine ceremony. After the Peace Corps, Sam returned to Michigan, where Alberta waited for him. For a few years, they chose to live in a remote Manistee River cabin where the only means of communication was by CB radio. Still adventurous In his 80s, Sam took flying lessons and made two parachute jumps.

Always a lucky man, Sam was blessed with a large and loving family. Sam is survived by his four children: Samuel Charles (Kris Rogness) Hartley of Seattle, WA; Janet Susan (Dave) Stafford of Traverse City, MI; Barbara Ann (Peter) Springsteen of Traverse City, MI; and Lynn Marie (John II) Collins of Honor, MI and New York City, NY.; ten grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Lillie Mae (Galbreath) Hartley; first wife and mother of his children, Phyllis Jean (Riethmiller) Barnand; second wife, Alberta Ann (Bultema) Hartley; brothers Herbert and Forest Hartley; sister Jean (Hartley) Ahearn; brother-in-law, James Ahearn; and sister-in-law Onalee Hartley.

Sam's cremains will rest beside those of Alberta at the Woodlawn Columbarium in Grand Rapids, MI, and in the Garden of Remembrance at the First Congregational Church in Traverse City. The last of his cremains will be committed to the sea with full Naval Honors by an active Navy ship in the waters near Pearl Harbor.

Sam's memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at noon, with visitation starting at 11 a.m., at First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City, MI. Instead of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, 2846 3 Mile Road N, Traverse City, MI 49684, (231) 929-7911. For online donations, go to gtrlc.com and click Donate in the upper right-hand corner.

"Sailor, rest your oar."
Leslie Nelson Jennings