Reva Nell (Deems) Sambol

Reva Nell (Deems) Sambol, Was born on August 30, 1935 in Pittsburg, KS. Reva was the youngest of four children to Lois Patterson and Homer Deems. She was driven toward personal achievement from an early age. Raised in the wake of the great depression, she learned at an early age that hard work and perseverance was the path through challenging times. Reva worked full time to put herself through college, working in department store shoe sales as well as modeling bridal and ball gowns for a local fashion designer. This is where she discovered her love of fashion and passed that appreciation on to her two daughters. A championship debater in her high school years, she carried that ability to analyze, research and explore any situation to all of her relationships throughout her life. Reva was proud that she was one of the first female graduates of the business school at Pittsburg State Teachers College. She utilized her accounting degree in accounting and administrative roles with a Kansas coal mining company, several corporate businesses, The American Cancer Society and the Indiana Bar Association. Her full-time career for the first 22 years of her marriage was that of an Army wife and mother, supporting her husband, Don, in his service to our country. Reva met Don in 1955, and they were married September 13, 1958. She made a new home for her family every 12 to 18 months, and they lived in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Pittsburg, Lawrence and Ft. Leavenworth, KS, Colorado Springs, CO, Tague, Korea, and Indianapolis, IN (3 different time periods, finally remaining here). With each move, Reva managed the household, sacrificing her personal time to seek out enrichment opportunities for her children thru music, art and team building sports – all while continuing to work part time outside the home to contribute to the financial support of her family. She may have been the originator of the first “She Shed”, transforming the storage shed behind their historic shotgun house in Madison, IN, to a beautiful tearoom with chandeliers – 15 years ago. Reva is preceded in death by her mother, Lois Ruth Patterson Deems; her father, Homer Deems; oldest brother, Ronald Deems; sister, Betty Lou Kennett; and daughter-in-law, Julie Sambol. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Donald George Sambol; brother, John Deems; children, Stacie Ann Hicks (James), Stephanie Sambol Carter (Dr. Charles), and Lance Milan Sambol (Susan); grandchildren, Casey Hicks, Andy Hicks and Erin Megan Sambol; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and their families. Reva had a very special relationship with her granddaughter, Erin. Reva left her mark on her family and friends and will be remembered as a strong, formidable and caring woman who did her best to make everyone else’s life better. She endured the cruel disease of Alzheimer’s for nearly 10 years, but had, in addition to her family, many caregivers who lovingly spent their days and nights with her to keep her safe and comfortable. She was taken from us quickly and died from complications of the COVID-19 virus on April 7, 2020. Services will be private at this time, due to the current health crisis. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, in Reva’s memory. Arrangements are entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel.

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Reva Nell (Deems) Sambol

August 30, 1935 - April 7, 2020