Samuel J. Lansberry, 82, of Woodland passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at the Allegheny Health Network West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh.
He was born on April 18, 1941 in Clearfield, a son of the late Clair and Violet (Falconer) Lansberry.
Sam attended Clearfield High School through 11th grade before transferring to the Valley Forge Military Academy in Valley Forge, PA where he graduated from in 1959. He still remained close with his classmates at Clearfield High School and attended their class reunions which he greatly enjoyed.
In 1959, he founded Samuel J. Lansberry Inc. with one, 10-ton two axle dump truck that was used to haul coal from local strip mines to tipples for processing. This business ultimately evolved into Lansberry Trucking, Inc. that still operates today.
Sam married his wife, Sandra 'Sandy' L. (Price) Lansberry on February 24, 1967 in Philipsburg, PA. With Sandy, he co-founded the Woodland Equipment and Supply Co. in 1975 that provided trucking, stockpiling, and transloading services to his customers in the northeast. In 1989, they also co-founded Cress-Wood Co., LLC, a commercial real estate company. Sam also founded a river terminal and warehousing company, Armstrong Terminal, Inc., in Schenley, PA, in 1991, and acquired a hydraulic hose company, World Wide Equipment Co., LLC in 2018.
Sam was also a long-time board member of the Woodland Bigler Area Authority until his recent retirement from the board.
Throughout his career, he was actively involved with the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) where he helped shape legislation that affected the trucking industry in Pennsylvania and served as Chairman from 1989-1991.
Sam became actively involved in the Woodland Little League when his boys began to play baseball. He started as a parent and fan, then as a coach, then as a corporate sponsor of the team. He then became the sole sponsor of Woodland Little League in 1985 and has sponsored the team every year since. That same year, he also donated the land and built the current Woodland Little League Field in Woodland, PA.
Mr. Lansberry was a member of the Bigler United Methodist Church, however he attended the Clearfield Alliance Church. He was an avid rider of his Harley Davidson trike and enjoyed long trips with his wife and friends throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. He and Sandy traveled on their trike to Sturgis, SD twice in recent years as well as Newfoundland, Canada. He was actively involved in Harley Owner's Group (HOG) meetings and HOG benefit rides.
Sam was an avid racing fan, particularly of sprint car racing and specifically the "World of Outlaws." He enjoyed visiting many of the sprint car tracks in Pennsylvania, including Port Royal, Lernerville, Selinsgrove, Williams Grove, and Hagerstown, MD.
He was an avid outdoorsman, including hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania and beyond. He made many trips "out west" and to Canada to hunt elk, moose, mule deer, and antelope, as well as to fish with his friends over the years. He also had the opportunity to go "out west" various times and hunt mule deer and antelope with his boys.
Sam greatly enjoyed his lunch dates every day at various locations throughout Clearfield with his friends, Tim Potts, Bob Cessna, John Crago, and Duwayne Guelich.
Mr. Lansberry served with the U. S. Army Reserves.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy L. Lansberry of Woodland; two sons, Samuel J. Lansberry, II of Treasure Lake, and Adam T. Lansberry and wife Angi of Clearfield; and two grandchildren, Alex Lansberry and Alayna Lansberry, both of Clearfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clair and Violet (Falconer) Lansberry.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. Interment will be in the Bradford Cemetery, Woodland.
Beardsley Funeral Home and Crematory, Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.
To sign the on-line guest book go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.