Samuel Joseph 'Sam' Lechiara Sr.

Mr. Samuel Joseph Lechiara Sr., 90, of Mt. Pleasant, SC died on Monday, September 15, 2014. He was born on Monday, June 29, 1924 in Bradford, PA, to the late Josephine Lechiara and the late Sabantina Lechiara. Sam attended the University of Miami and during World War II, enlisted in the U.S. Army serving with the 259th Field Artillery Headquarters Battalion, seeing action in Ardennes, Northern France, Rhineland and the Central European theatres. During the Battle of the Bulge, Sam was assigned at forward observation posts relaying enemy gun and installation information to rear fire control positions and handling voice, CW messages and laying communication wires. Sam retired from Lucent Technologies, Hunt Valley, MD, in 1990 after 35 years of service. He is survived by his devoted wife of 25 years, Mary F. Cullings of Mount Pleasant, SC, sisters; Frances Susi and Lucy McAndrew; children; Samuel J. Lechiara, Jr. of Bel Air, MD, Kimberley C. Weaver of Rockledge, FL, stepsons; Eric A. Cullings of Towson, MD and Kurt T. Cullings of Mt. Pleasant, SC, grandsons; Blake and Ian Weaver, Travis and Ethan Lechiara, and Nathaniel Cullings. He was preceded in death by brothers; Nicholas, Dominic and Francis Lechiara, sisters; Mary Burson, and Margaret Myers. Family and friends will gather at McAlister Smith Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant Chapel, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 on Saturday, September 20, 2014, from 10:00 to 11:00 am with a 'Celebration of Life' to be held at 11:00 am with Military Honors to follow and a reception in the Chapel. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In memory of Sam donations may be made to St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 950 Darrell Creek Trail, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 RIFLE RANGE RD., MT PLEASANT, SC (843) 884-3833.