The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
TRIBUTE PAID TO SAMUEL FELTON
Veterans, family, friends say goodbye to hometown hero
Area veterans and their supporters began saying their goodbyes to a Marine Corps veteran who became a leader in the Lorain community.
The Lorain Palace Theater hosted a socially distanced gathering for people to pay their respects to Samuel L. Felton Jr. of Lorain. Felton died May 23 at the age of 70.
A Vietnam veteran, Felton
received the Navy Cross for heroism in combat in 1969.
Fifty years later, he was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame for his contributions to veterans and the community. In between those times, he received recognition for his service, especially for veterans and youths.
“You’ll see today, throughout the day probably, how many people are going to come through and how many lives he’s touched, no matter if
“He was a great man and a hero, and he was definitely my hero.” — Ray Kershaw, a Navy veteran and adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans Lorain Chapter 20
you’re a veteran or with the youth and the rec centers,” said Jose M. Torres, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission. “Just an amazing overall guy.”
Torres said it would be difficult to find someone who didn’t like Felton for his dedication to the community.
“Now it’s going to be up to everybody to step up because one person is not going to be able to fill his shoes,” Torres said.
“It’s going to take a collective effort for everybody to continue what he had going and what he was doing.”
Ray Kershaw, a Navy veteran and adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans Lorain Chapter 20, knew Felton as commander of that organization. Felton was his best friend, and everybody’s best friend, Kershaw said.
“Sam was the most giving person,” Kershaw said. “He was true to his honor, true to his self. He was the guy that was the first one to pitch in to help, he was the first one to throw some money in the pot when somebody needed it. He was a truly caring person.”
Standing well over 6 feet tall, Felton was a large presence, Kershaw said, but not an overbearing one.
“He was 6-foot-something, but when you stood next to him, you never felt like a little guy,” Kershaw said, because Felton had the ability to make everyone feel involved and important.
“He was a great man and a hero and he was definitely my hero,” he said.
The Lorain Palace Theater, city administration,
Lorain Police Department Auxiliary and Brown Robinson Funeral Home coordinated the event.
The stream of visitors was steady, but spread out across the 1,477-seat playhouse.
Mourners wore face coverings and used hand sanitizer upon entering the Palace lobby.
An honor guard of veterans stood along aisles to direct people to the stage, where Felton lay clad in his Marine Corps uniform.
It appeared the event was unique in recent memory and happened largely due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. If large public gatherings were allowed in other buildings, another space could accommodate the visitation, said Dan Kelley, the Palace’s board president.
It also was a privilege for the Palace to honor Felton, said Kelley and theater Executive Director Chris Pataky.
“I did not know him personally, but as a Lorainite, how do you not know him?” Kelley said. “His service career speaks for itself but what always impressed me was how he gave back to the community.
“In the midst of all this pandemic how could we not give back to his legacy and his family by allowing people to pay respects?” Kelley said.
“We’re honored to be able to accommodate his family and the funeral home and all the people that are paying their last respects.”
Pataky also credited the work of board Vice President Tyrone Howard to coordinate the event.
The social distancing, face masks, hand sanitizer and other stipulations were important for personal and public safety, but ultimately the day was about Felton, Pataky said.