William Samuel
“Will,” “Willy,” “Willie,” “Sam,” “Sammy,” Tynes, known affectionately to his family and friends by all these names, born June 24, 1978 in Fairhope, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008.
He graduated from Fairhope High School and received a B.S. in geographic information systems from Samford University in Birmingham. He served in the U.S. Army as a cartographer, defending his country during a tour of duty in Camp Anaconda, Balad, Iraq. He was medically discharged after receiving injuries in combat. He was recently employed as a geospatial engineer at Northrop Grumman in Alexandria, Va.
He was overjoyed to be “Bama Bound” once again with a job offer as a geospatial intelligence analyst at Nova Datacom (Corps of Engineers, Mobile). He arrived back home from Virginia the evening of Dec. 22.
He never tired of his Alabama roots, being on or near the water, making plans for the future Aunt Marian's Abbey on Weeks Bay, barbequing, or sitting by a fire pit on sultry Bama nights creating new memories with all around him.
He proudly achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 47 while in high school. He treasured the time spent with friends and family and rarely let time pass between visits, phone calls or emails. He loved life. He was very protective of the numerous people he loved and appreciated. He was deeply spiritual. He held the Catholic faith dear to his heart. He found strength from his faith in dealing with the many health issues he faced and was determined to overcome.
Everyone who met him loved him and was drawn to his ease of manner and sense of humor. He leaves a multitude of friends from childhood through the military (his battle-buddies), and his places of work. He is already missed — particularly at this first Christmas gathering without him.
Survivors include many cousins, uncles Gene (Lorene), Dennis (Patti), Joseph (Elsa), Vincent (Rosa), Chris (Laurie), Art (Beverly) James, John; aunts, Cathy (Raymond), Marian, Michele, Grandma Lami, Grandma Tynes, and his “second Dad,” Paul Ripp and mom, Miss Carolyn; his parents Rose “Mama Rose” Lami-Tynes and Bill Tynes of Fairhope, sister, Sunshine Lami-Tynes of Mobile, brother Gabriel (Ellen) Tynes of Mobile, brother Caleb Tynes, USAF, of O'Fallon, Ill., and his wife Lora Leigh of Birmingham.
A memorial Mass wil be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Battles Wharf, followed by a celebration of his life in Seton Hall at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Fairhope.
The family requests memorial donations be made for the upkeep of Sacred Heart Chapel and the Cullen Center. The family asks that you keep all military personnel, their families, and all veterans in your prayers.
Finally, the family wishes to thank Gary Barron, SSSe, neighbor and friend for his help on that day.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
