Samuel Pearis
January 22, 1931 — May 24, 2009
A "hillbilly" from West Virginia and an "adopted Texan". A professional soldier, defender of God & Country and a recruiter of Baptist missionaries. These terms describe Colonel Samuel P. Pearis, IV who died on May 24, 2009 from Pulmonary Fibrosis. Born in the coal mining town of Mullens, WV on January 22, 1931, he graduated from high school in the same school system in which he started kindergarten. After graduating from Alderson-Broaddus College (Philippi, WV; 1953), he entered the Air Force Aviation Cadet program. He graduated with Pilot's wings and Lieutenant's bars in December, 1954. He married Anna Paulina (Polly) Matics of Spencer, WV on June 11, 1955. Their Air Force service took them to Texas (2), Florida, France, Ohio, Okinawa, Illinois and Alabama. While stationed on Okinawa, he flew over 170 combat missions in Vietnam in the C-130 Hercules and acquired a Master's degree in Operations Management from Southern California University. He was a graduate of the Air War College, with his last assignment being as President of the Air Force Formal Physical Evaluation Board. He retired in June, 1980. During his almost 27 years of service. Colonel Pearis received many awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. For three years after retirement, he served as a volunteer member of the San Antonio Baptist Association staff, promoting missions and recruiting volunteer missionaries. In January, 1984, he became the Mission Service Corps Director for the over 6,000 churches of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Dallas. With Polly as his assistant, they served until retirement in September, 2002. They recruited volunteer missionaries to serve all over the world, paying or raising their financial support. The hundred volunteer missionaries serving when they started increased to 1250+ at their retirement. They, in Texas, were recognized as volunteer leaders throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. This was emphasized in three separate retirement events. They retired back to Universal City in 2003, where they were active in the First Baptist Church and San Antonio Baptist Association. Colonel Pearis is preceded in death by parents Vida G. and Samuel Pepper Pearis III; and is survived by Polly, his wife of 54 years, a daughter Tamara and son Barry of Universal City; eight grandchildren and two great granddaughters. He is also survived by two brothers, John and his wife Dana of Belton, MO and Herbert and his wife JoAnn of Lewisburg, WV. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Enduring Love Foundation of the First Baptist Church of Universal City, 1401 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, TX 78148, phone 210-658-6394. Viewing will be held at Schertz Funeral Home at 2217 FM 3009, Wednesday, May 27, 2009 from 5-9 pm. Services will be at the First Baptist Church, 1401 Pat Booker, Universal City at 2:30 pm. Thursday, May 28, 2009
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