Samuel James Houston, 22, of York County, having lived a life without regrets, went home to Jesus on May 5, 2025. He was a son of Ronald and Debra Houston.
Samuel was born in Salem, Virginia, but moved to the York county/ Williamsburg area at the age of 3. He attended Magruder Elementary, Greenwood Christian Academy, Waller Mill Elementary and then moved on to Queens Lake Middle and graduated from Bruton High School in 2021. Samuel also completed the automotive mechanics curriculum at New Horizons Regional Education Center.
Samuel was an Eagle Scout in Troop 155. He started scouting in Pack 100 when he was in first grade. We found out quickly that he loved scouting and excelled at being one. In Troop 155, he served in many leadership positions to include a very long tenure as Senior Patrol Leader. Highlights of his scout career included summer camps at Camp Powhatan, (his favorite Virginia camp) and a life changing trek at Philmont Scout Ranch, through the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northeastern New Mexico. When he aged out of scouts, he became an assistant scoutmaster. He learned skills and leadership that served him well in life and made unbreakable bonds with fellow scouts and scouters alike. He truly lived the scout oath and law.
Sam came to know Jesus early in life. He was a member of Lifepointe Christian Church in Toano, Va. While not a talkative person, Samuel demonstrated his faith in God by helping others and showing kindness to all. He was funny and loving to everyone. Samuel loved the outdoors. A camper and woodsman, he loved to spend free time with friends out enjoying nature whenever he could. Samuel was also naturally mechanically inclined. He worked on cars and trucks, and as an electrician, sign maker and fabricator. He was good at whatever he set his mind to accomplishing. Samuel was also a history buff and liked to study and visit historical places. He enjoyed gaming with friends, cycling, remote-controlled cars and planes, off roading and motorcycles. He was a very happy employee of Innovated Machine & Tool Co. in Newport News, where he was well loved.
Samuel is survived by his parents, Ronald and Debra Houston of Williamsburg; his brother, Neil Houston, also of Williamsburg; grandmothers, Velma Houston of Salem, VA, and grandmother, Darlene Ratliff of Roanoke, VA; uncles, Randall Houston (Jackie) of Bedford, VA, Rodney Houston (Betty) of Franklin County, VA, and Mark Ratliff of Richmond, VA; as well as an aunt, Rhonda Houston of Columbus, OH. Samuel also has many cousins that he maintained extremely close relationships with. Importantly, Sam left so many friends that he kept as close as brothers and sisters.
A celebration of Sam’s life will be held 2 p.m., June 1, 2025 at Lifepointe Christian Church 8841 Richmond Rd Toano, VA 23168.
In honor of Samuel, we ask that you plant a tree! Sam loved trees and complained every time he saw them being cut down. You can go buy one and plant it on your own or you can visit arborday.org, where you can plant trees in memory of Sam.
