On Sunday, August 16th, 2026, Cynthia Ellen Rucker Sample finished her course and was welcomed Home by her Savior. Born on April 26th, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the youngest daughter of Paul Daniel Rucker and Grace Irene Fordyce Rucker. Cindy followed her mother’s footsteps and became a registered nurse, working in the labor and delivery department.
On February 17th, 1973, she was set up on a blind date by her eldest sister. That day, she met the man she would marry just 6 months later, Charles Edward Sample. It was a long distance yet short engagement, with her living in St. Louis and him living in Sikeston. But on August 4th, 1973, they said “I do,” the beginning of 53 years together.
A year after their wedding, they welcomed their first child, Charles Daniel Sample. Shortly after the birth of Charlie, Cindy made the decision to give up nursing to stay home to raise her child. Because of Ed’s work as an electrical engineer, they moved several times, from Sikeston to St. Louis, to Topeka, Kansas, where they welcomed their second child, Caren Elizabeth Sample, in 1981. Their little family was now complete. They would move two more times, from Topeka to Kankakee, Illinois, to finally settle in the one place Cindy did not want to move…Alabama. Ed started a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority, working at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, and moving the family to Athens in 1987.
Athens soon became home, where Cindy raised their children. She taught them to love God and to serve Him. The family of four was active in church and worked in ministries. She was also active in their schools, supporting Charlie in the rifle team in JROTC, and working as a nurse and library aide in Caren’s elementary school, then eventually homeschooling her through 12th grade. Through the years, Ed and Cindy gave their children a love of travel, with countless family vacations all over the United States.
As her children grew up, she always continued to support them. She was overjoyed when she added another daughter to the family, when Charlie married his love, Kaylene Joy Kress, in 2006. In 2011, God blessed their family with the miracle of a grandson named Joshua Daniel Sample, who was the joy of the whole family.
While health issues started to limit Cindy, she was still the center of her family and the love of Ed’s life. Ed always stayed by her side through her many different health issues. Even when he started having issues himself, he only thought of his true love, staying by her side until the very end.
Cindy is survived by her husband, Charles; children Charlie (Kaylene) and Caren; grandchild Danny; sisters Jeannie (Dwayne) Heneger and Sue (Norm) Patterson; sister-in-law Laura Inman; many nieces and nephews; and family-in-love, the Kress family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul & Grace Rucker; parents-in-law Charles and Mabel Sample; and brother-in-law David Sample.
A service to celebrate the life of Cindy will be Thursday, August 20th, at 6:00pm, at Elkton Road Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Cindy’s memory to your church’s missions ministry or to Hospice of Limestone County.
We, the family, would like to thank the wonderful staff of Hospice of Limestone County for their unwavering support for the last two years. They not only cared for our mom, they became our dear friends! Also, to the staff of Limestone Health Facility, for taking such good care of Mom and Dad. To our caregiver, Theresa Clements, who helped us have Mom at home for a year and a half, she became an adopted daughter. Our church families and friends, who have loved us so unconditionally and taken care of us all these last two years. Thank you!
