Samuel Julian "Sam" Ard

Samuel Julian “Sam” Ard, 78, of Pamplico, SC, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017, McLeod Hospice House surrounded by his family. Mr. Ard was born in Scranton, SC, a son of the late Berkley Montana Ard and Eller Lillian Thornhill Ard.He was a veteran of the US Air Force and served during the Vietnam War.He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and the Church Brotherhood.Mr. Ard was a Nascar race car driver and won twenty-two races from 1982-1984.He holds the record for four consecutive wins.He won the Mid Atlantic Regional Championship in 1982, was second in the Busch Grand National in 1982, won the Mid Atlantic Regional Championship and the Busch Series in 1983 and won the Busch Series in 1984.His career was ended in 1984 when he barely survived a crash at Rockingham. He was also a notable mechanic, having built cars for other racers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Charley Ard, Betty Jo Prosser and Carrie Mae Munn. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Agnes Josephine “Jo” Ard; his children, Melinda Ard Matthews (Benji), Shirley Joane Jones (Bruce), Robert Samuel Ard and Sharon Lynn Ard; six grandchildren, Nicholas, Felicia, Amber, Christian, Sarah and Tiffany; two great-grandchildren, Hayden and Conner; sister, Margie Linyard; ten nieces and ten nephews.Also special friends, Bobby and Linda Loggains and Toby and John Page. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home Chapel.Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Pamplico. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Please sign the tribute wall for Mr. Ard at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.