Samuel Dow Maloney's Obituary
Samuel Dow Maloney, 102, passed from this reality to the next July 5, 2026 at The Pines at Davidson. He was born May 13, 1924 at Annapolis, MD, to the late Capt. James Dodson Maloney USN (Ret) and Rebecca Dow Maloney both of Knoxville, TN. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1942 and attended the University of Tennessee, Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, until called to serve in the Army Air Corps in April 1943. He flew missions as a B-24 pilot (AC) with the 7th Air Force in the Pacific Theater from Angaur, Palau Islands, and over China and Japan from Okinawa. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Davidson College in 1948 (AB) with a major in philosophy and from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia in 1951 (BD) where he also earned ThM and ThD degrees in theology and Christian ethics.
In 1950 he married Ruth Ann Peoples of Knoxville, TN. His infant daughter Deborah Dow, his brother James D. Maloney, Jr., and his wife of almost 60 years predeceased him. His two wonderful sons—David Maloney with wife Janice of Denver, NC, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, and Jon Maloney of Alexis, NC—survive him.
Following a pastorate at the Red Springs, NC, Presbyterian Church (1952-54) he taught in the Religion Department at Davidson College for 40 years. He helped design Davidson’s 2-year Humanities Program and taught in it for 31 years, directing the second year from 1967-1982. He chaired the Department of Religion from 1983-1990. He received the ΟΔΚ Teaching Award. In 1994 he retired as the James Sprunt Professor Emeritus of Religion and Philosophy. He served on committees and councils of the Presbyterian Church (US & USA), as Moderator of Fayetteville and Concord presbyteries, as Co-moderator of Charlotte Presbytery, three times as Commissioner to the General Assembly, and as Church School Teacher at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church. From 1956 until his military retirement as Colonel in 1984, he served as Chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, 23 years with the North Carolina Air National Guard. An Outstanding graduate of the Air War College Correspondence Program, he lectured frequently at the National Defense University, the Air War College, the Army Command and Staff College, and the Air National Guard NCO Academy. Gov. Hunt awarded him the North Carolina Distinguished Service Award. Member: North Carolina Teachers of Religion (President), American Academy of Religion (President, SE Region), Society of Christian Ethics, Society of Biblical Literature, Armed Forces and Society, Joint Services Conference on Professional Ethics, and Air National Guard Chaplains Council. For 15 years during the Cold War, he served the Town of Davidson and Davidson College as Director of Civil Defense/Civil Emergencies.
Since 1999 he has lived happily and gratefully among friends and the caring staff at The Pines at Davidson, serving on Residents Council committees, traveling, playing bridge, and reading widely in science, quantum physics, consciousness, and monistic understandings of reality.
Memorial contributions can be made to Davidson College at The Fund for Davidson, Davidson College, PO Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035 or to The Pines at Davidson Resident Support Fund, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, NC 28036. James Funeral Home transported his Whole Body Donation to Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Sam requested a private memorial service for his friends at The Pines.
Online condolences may be made at https://www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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