Samuel Kenneth Plank, 18, of Saucon Valley, died on March 5, 2018. He was born Sept. 27, 1999 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Andrew and Tina Lee (Paige) Plank.
Sam was a 2017 graduate of Saucon Valley High School, where he was member of the stage crew. He was most recently attending Northampton Community College. Sam enjoyed working as a guide at Lost River Caverns in Hellertown. He was sweet, with a wonderful smile and great sense of humor. Sam loved nature. He was often hiking and camping the various parks and trails in the Lehigh Valley and gathering interesting rocks along the way to add to his collection. Sam found great joy at the beach and he had aspirations of traveling. He shared a passion for history with his father and relaxed playing computer games.
SURVIVORS
Sam will be dearly missed by his parents; siblings: Chad Paige and his wife, Michelle, and Andrea Plank; paternal grandmother: Ellen Plank; his niece; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
SERVICES
A visitation will be held at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18017, with a reception following the service.
CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sam’s honor to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 8701 Georgia Ave., Suite 412, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or via the ADAA website.
Note: The family of Sam Plank has extended a special invitation to his friends and former classmates to attend the memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, at which the Rev. J.C. Austin will deliver a eulogy that highlights suicide awareness. Their hope is that this important message will reach others who have or may be battling depression as Sam was, so they will reach out for help when they need it.
