Warren L. (Sam) Potter, 79 of Springfield Missouri passed away on May 18, 2019 at Mercy Hospital after a short but hard-fought battle with cancer.
Born January 9, 1940 in Springfield MO to Warren (Ted) Potter and Josephine (Jo) Potter (Ringenberg). Sam spent all of his life in Springfield and was active in many different areas of the community; sports, expanding the home building industry, and car shows just to name a few.
Throughout his life until well into his 60s, Sam played AAA Fastpitch Softball as a third baseman and was inducted into the Springfield Softball Hall of Fame. This was his lifelong passion and he loved every minute of it. He always said he was so lucky to get to play the game he loved so much all over the country. He met many lifelong friends through the game of fast pitch softball. He played in national, state, regional, and local tournaments during the 50 years he played the game. He was even part of the 1979 Summer Games in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the team won a silver medal. He was well known for his style on third base as well as his overall ability to play the game. If you saw him play you remember his routine before every pitch and how close he played to the batter. It was so much fun to watch him.
Sam was active in multiple sports throughout his life, not just fast pitch softball. When he was 12 years old, he won the men’s city bowling tournament, beating out men 2 and 3 times his age. After his win, there was a minimum age limit put on this tournament- adults only. He was so proud of this accomplishment and would laugh when he told the story, being so little and going against grown men. He got his start in bowling as a pin boy at his father’s bowling alley which was housed in the basement of the Missouri Hotel. He continued to bowl throughout his life on recreational leagues with family and friends at Sherm Loller Lanes (now Sunshine Lanes). Golf was another one of his past-times. He loved to play with family and friends at courses all over. He might not have been the straightest shot but he sure could hit the ball further than most would expect.
Another past-time of Sam’s were cars. In his teens and on he loved cars. He was a founding member of the Shifters Car Club in Springfield. Over many years, he customized, rebuilt, and showed cars.He even wrote a magazine for awhile related to the cars and car shows. In his younger years he would not only participate in car shows, but would also organize the car shows. As he got older and did not show his personal cars, he always loved to attend the car shows. He loved walking around looking at the cars with his girls. He would always point out ones like he had owned or worked on. He’d explain why one car was of a higher quality or rarity than another to them. Car shows continued to be something he loved to go to especially with his daughters. They loved going along as well, learning and watching his fascination with it all.
Sam did not just play hard, he worked hard too. He took over the business started by his father, Potter Enterprises Inc home building and manage to build hundreds of homes all over Springfield, Branson, and other parts of the Ozarks. There are very few residential areas in Springfield that do not have a Potter home in them; either built by Sam or his dad. At one time he had 30+ houses being built at a time, and this was before computers. He knew every address, cost, floor plan, spec sheet, and detail of all the homes going by memory. It was uncanny to watch him rattle off numbers and know exactly what was missing or what was being worked on. Through his building career he also made many lifelong friends and met many very interesting people, Sam and Ted built Porter Wagner’s first home in Missouri. He was lucky to have built the first home for many people in the area.
Of all his accomplishments, Sam was most proud of his kids. Though he was always busy, if one of them called, he would find a way to help or be there for them. He would be the first to admit he wasn’t a perfect dad, but he loved his kids more than anything on earth. This love carried over to his grandkids. He was so proud of his grandkids and all they did. He loved watching Trayton play basketball and hanging out with Miss Josie. He liked to tell everyone and anyone that would listen about his kids and grandkids. Growing up with Sam as a father, his kids got to experience many exciting things. Sam and his daughters took yearly spring break trips to Florida, many resembling that of a Lampoons Vacation movie. The stories that would come out of these vacations would have you in tears from laughter. No matter what, we always knew and felt the love he had for us.
When Sam got the last diagnosis of cancer, he said “It’s okay, I’ve led an amazingly wonderful life. I have accomplished more than I thought possible and have only one regret.” The only regret he said he had was that he wished he had been a better husband to his wives, all 5 of them. He was serious about this even if it sounded silly. Though he said if had been a better husband, he wouldn’t have had his two girls; whom he wouldn’t trade for the world.
Sam is survived by his daughter, Lori Swindell (James Stanford) of Willard MO; grandkids Trayton Griffin and Josie Swindell, James’ children CJ & Alexus; his step-son, Danny Fudge (Penny Fudge) of Papillion, Nebraska; grandkids Lindsey and Samantha; great – grandkids Lucy and Theodore; step-son Brian Jones; nephew, Tony Shank and Family; niece Kristy Shank; many cousins and very special friends.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents Ted and Jo, sister Patti, daughter Sheri, and Danny’s mother Betty.
Visitation will be Friday May, 24 2019 from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm at Green Lawn South. There will not be a graveside service.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Gene and Judy Herndon for all of their support and help during Sam’s time of illness. Thank you to his friends that kept his spirits up and checked on him throughout the last year and a half of ups and downs, also thank you to all of the wonderful nurses, doctors, and aides that took care of him during his stay at Mercy Hospital.
In lieu of flowers we would like for donations to be made to your favorite charities in memory of Sam.