Richmond Times, Richmond, VA
Obituary of Samuel W. Aston

November 25, 1902 SAMUEL W. ASTON Death of a Widely Known Merchant in Southwest Virginia. (Special Dispatch to The Times.) LEBANON, VA., November 24. Samuel W. Aston, Sr., one of the most widely-known men in all this section, died Friday at the ripe age of eighty-nine years. He had lived in Lebanon for a period of about sixty years, during which time he had conducted a successful retail mercantile business. He was twice married, first to Mrs. Louisa Alderson, and of this marriage six children were born, all of whom survive him except a son who fell a soldier in the Confederate army. His second marriage was with Mrs. Lucy Aiken, and of this marriage two children were born, namely, Sam Aston, Jr., of Lebanon, Va and Mrs. Lula Loyd, of Lynchburg, Va. For a long number of years he had been a member of the Methodist Church, in which he lived a consecrated Christian life. His house was always a home for the ministers of all denominations; his contributions to religious purposes were liberal and free. He had the profound regard of all who knew him, and justly shared the confidence of all men. As a parent and husband he was devoted, gentle and indulgent. As a neighbor of the old Virginia regime none excelled him. He was a man polished in manners, gentle by nature, clean in all his personal and business relations, true to church, true to his fellow man, true to country and true to God.