Samuel Carlson Williamson

Samuel Carlson Williamson

Age 95, of Wilkins Township, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Samuel was born in Pitcairn on December 22,1926 to the late Samuel H. and Eva J. (Carlson) Williamson. He was preceded in death by his cousin, Max Mansell and Aunt, Ethel A. Carlson.

Sam was educated in the Pitcairn public schools and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1950 from the University of Pittsburgh. He was employed by the United States Steel Corporation (now USX) after his discharge from the United States Army Chemical Corps in 1952. He retired as superintendent of the chemicals department at the Clairton works. Sam was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Eastern States Blast Furnace and Coke Oven Association, the Western Pennsylvania Engineers Society, and was a past president and director of the River Terminal Operators Association, Port of Pittsburgh.

Sam often said that his life changed forever on September 28, 1945, when he was initiated into McKinley Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, in Turtle Creek, PA, and where he served as the chapter’s secretary.  This is what led him to the Masonic Fraternity, where he found his place to excel.

Sam was active in many Masonic organizations, serving as Worshipful Master of Tyrian Lodge No. 612 in Level Green, and was last a member of Plum Creek Lodge No. 799, Plum. He served as the Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania in 1982 and 1983. It was at that time he led the Grand Lodge to establish the Pennsylvania Youth Foundation, a charitable outreach of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to promote leadership training for youth and to support Masonic-related youth groups such as DeMolay, Rainbow Girls and Job's Daughters. He served on its Board of Directors as an officer of the corporation from its inception until retiring in 2020.

Holding many Masonic positions, Sam served on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Unit of the Shriner's Hospital for Children.  He was first elected to the Grand Lodge committee on Masonic Homes in 1971 and served for 21 years. Additionally, he served on the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance, the Committee on Youth Activities and chaired the Committee on Matching Charity Grants. Active in the Order of DeMolay, he served as Executive Officer in Pennsylvania, 1987-2000, and as DeMolay International’s Grand Treasurer, 1996-2002. One of his most satisfying accomplishments was the conversion of the Patton Masonic School at Elizabethtown, PA, into a Masonic Conference Center for youth.  Another was bringing the Order of DeMolay and the Knights of Pythagoras together for annual Brotherhood Retreats and establishing, through the youth, an informal dialogue with Prince Hall Freemasonry.  

Sam received many fraternal honors. In 1977 he was coroneted a 33rd degree honorary member of the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.  He was invested with the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin award in 1984 for outstanding service. A similar recognition, the Daniel Coxe Medal, was awarded to him in 2005 by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. In 2006 he was honored with the DeMolay Grand Cross. In 2013 he was given Honorary Membership in the Prince Hall Scottish Rite Council of Deliberation. In 2016 was inducted into the DeMolay International Hall of Fame, and in 2019 he became only the 46th recipient of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council Medal of Honor.

Sam was also active in his community and in business. He served as vice president and director of the Sentinel Savings Association of Delmont, PA. He was elected to Pitcairn Borough Council from 1967 to 1973. He was a past director of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association and a member of the USX Good Fellowship club. Throughout most of his life Sam was a member of the Center Avenue United Methodist Church of Pitcairn, where he chaired the Administration Board and the Finance Committee, served as Superintendent of the Sunday School and was also a Trustee. More recently he has been a member of the Monroeville United Methodist Church and a leader on the Finance Committee.  Always focused on the development of young people, he served the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church as a director of the Jumonville Christian Retreat Center and on its Jumonville Foundation. 

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, July 9, 2022, 2-4 & 6-9 pm at the JOBE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, INC. (MONROEVILLE/PLUM CHAPEL) 445 Beatty Road, Monroeville (412-856-4747). 

A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the Monroeville United Methodist Church, which will include a brief Masonic Service, conducted by the officers of the Grand Lodge, with Masonic eulogies. 

Burial will be held at Penn Lincoln Memorial Park on Monday, July 11, 2022, at 10:30 am with full military honors. Please arrive at the chapel in Penn Lincoln for committal prayers and military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation, or the Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center . www.jobefuneralhome.com.

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