Denver "D.L." Samples

Denver DL Samples Jr. (March 30, 1947- November 27, 2012) was the eldest son of Doris and Denver Samples Sr. With both parents serving as accomplished educators, both he and his sister Denise; whom he affectionately called sputnik, were raised with a strong appreciation for their heritage and the value of education. As such, Denver successfully pursued his education as a student-athlete, graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso. Denver earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and another in Psychology, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Education. After a brief NFL career, he played professional basketball with the Kingston team in Canada, returning to the states as a probation officer for the Southwest Territory in Texas followed by a promising career, teaching special education at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs. Denver loved to help others and soon this drive to empower the lives of young men, led him to the field of group homes and the behavior sciences. He held positions on the board of directors for Inland Behavior Health Services and led group homes in San Bernardino California. His passion for mentoring young people and empowering through education was surpassed only by his love of life and travel. Turning his aspirations to entrepreneurialism, Denver took to the skies and highways gathering more friends than one could count as a wholesale merchandiser. While he loved spending time with friends in Las Vegas, Nevada and attending the annual Bayou Classic while touring the southern states, nothing compared to his hometown of Dallas, Texas. Denver is known for his magnanimous personality and generous heart. His personality was such that no matter how you were feeling, he had a way to make you smile. His life is marked with several wonderful memories and proud moments, the birth of his sons Denver Samples III and Alex Joseph Kennedy and the marriage to his beloved wife Charlotte are among them but even he would say that they pale in comparison to the rededication of his life to Christ. Denver took this turning point very seriously and spent many years sharing the love and joy of knowing Jesus Christ as savior with anyone who would hear it. Denver Samples was a very loving man, a strong role model, a faithful father, loving husband, loyal friend, dear brother, respectful son, and patient counselor. He will be sorely missed.



Left to mourn his loss are his father Denver Samples Sr. of Texas, wife Charlotte Samples of California, sister Denise White (Patrick) of Phoenix, Arizona, sons Denver Samples III of Texas and Alex Joseph Kennedy of Arizona, Step-daughters Nancy Jacks, Monica Smart (Glen) and Penny Tootle (Samuel), five grandsons, two grand-daughters, one great-grand daughter, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Preceding him in death was his mother Doris Whitaker and Step-mother Eva Delores Samples.



In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Salvation Army. As Denvers life was marked by his generosity and punctuated by his love for Christ, we would consider this a befitting memorial of love.