Samuel Landreth was born January 12, 1922 in the Green Valley Community near Fries, Virginia to William Lee and Ida Boyles Landreth. He graduated from Fries High School and then served as a medical officer in the 45th US Army Thunderbird Infantry Division in WWII, with tours of combat duty in France, Italy, and Germany. Samuel Landreth was decorated with the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action during the invasion of France when he rescued a wounded soldier in an open field under enemy fire. He was awarded the Purple Heart when wounded by sniper fire while treating a wounded soldier, and the Bronze Medal for Good Conduct. When he returned from combat service, Samuel Landreth attended the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, under the GI Bill and graduated as Valedictorian Optometrist of that School in 1952. Dr. Landreth opened his practice in Marion in 1952 and served the citizens of Smyth, Wythe, and Grayson Counties for nearly 40 years before his retirement.

He is survived by two sons, Kenneth Samuel Landreth of Morgantown, WV and David Charles Landreth of Newport, TN; three daughters-in-law, Louann Landreth of Christiansburg, VA., Seattina Landreth of Newport TN, and Marianne Kovatch of Morgantown, WV. two grandsons Matthew Samuel Landreth of Chicago, IL and Benjamin Moss Landreth of Corvalis, OR.; as well as many nieces and nephews. Dr. Landreth was preceded in death by his loving wife, Iva Vaughan Landreth of Fries, and a son Jerry Lee Landreth of Christiansburg.

The family will receive friends Sunday, March 15th from one until four pm at Bradley's Funeral Home , 938 N. Main Street in Marion and on Monday, March 16th from four until seven pm at Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home in Galax. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 11:00 am in Felts Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Gloria Lancaster Rhudy officiating.

Dr. Landreth was born to a musical family and was an accomplished guitarist, harmonica player, and singer throughout his life. He valued the role of music in families, taught his children to play, and continually encouraged others to play string band music. To honor that life-long personal conviction to preserve the music heritage of Southwest Virginia, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wayne C. Henderson Music Scholarship Program, PO Box 531, Galax, Virginia 24333. Further information about this program can be found at www.waynehenderson.org and addressed donation envelopes will be available at both viewings. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley's Funeral Home in Marion, Va. is serving the Landreth family in Marion, Va. and Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home is serving the Landreth Family in Galax, Va..