Samuel L. Himmelberger, 82, of Topton, died peacefully Jan. 31, 2021, in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, under hospice care. He was the loving husband of Mildred E. Himmelberger, to whom he was married for 61 years. Born in Salisbury, Md., he was a son of the late John and Edna (Renninger) Himmelberger.

He was a graduate of Kutztown State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He continued his education and received a Masters of Science degree in social studies/history education from Temple University. His love of learning continued and he took classes at the University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, University of Virginia, Moravian College and Gannon University, staying current on content and methods for teaching.

He began his public teaching career in the Kutztown Area School District in 1960, teaching junior high school social studies. He then accepted a position in the East Penn School District, Emmaus, teaching history, economics and government until retiring in 1993.

During his tenure at East Penn, he was a senior class advisor for several graduating classes, was department chair for the social studies department and was the first president of the Schoolman’s Faculty Club.

He was honored to display the many college and university pennants given to him by his students as they chose their schools for continuing education.

After retirement, he continued teaching as an adjunct professor at Alvernia College and Northampton Community College, focusing on American history and was proud to teach a course on Native American history. He also held a “fun job” as greeter at the Kutztown University Book Store for several years.

He was an active member in the East Penn Education Association as well as PSEA and NEA.

In his spare time he enjoyed photography, having his own dark room and producing his own prints for a time. Other hobbies and interests included collecting flags and banners of all types and biking on bike paths throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland - proudly completing the entire length of the C & O Canal Towpath. He loved to travel with his wife and friends and was known for spontaneous road trips. Over the years he and his wife were able to visit all 50 states, take two trips to Europe and six cruises.

He is survived by his wife; daughters, Holli L. Buchter, of Pawleys Island, S.C. and Heidi H. and her husband, Dan Walker, of Damascus, Md; brothers, David O. and his wife, Leigh, of Elverson and Peter H. and his wife, Roxanne, of Lake Frederick, Va.; grandchildren, Matthew Buchter, of Longmont, Colo., Kristen and her husband, Kyle O’Neill, of Longmont, Colo., Zachary Walker, of Toronto, Canada. He was predeceased by a brother, Dennis and his wife Shirley, of Alburtis.

Contributions may be made in his memory to Power for Parkinson’s, 5555 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite L121, Austin, Texas 78751 or online at www.powerfor-parkinsons.org/memorial; American Heart Association of Lehigh Valley, 968 Postal Road, #110, Allentown, 18109, or online at www.heart.org/donate; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern PA – Delaware, P.O. Box 22467, New York, N.Y. 10087-2467, or online at www.lls.org/donate; The Rails to Trails Conservancy, 2121 Ward Ct., NW, 5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20037, or online at www.railstotrails.org/donation.

Arrangements were made by the Ludwick Funeral Homes, Inc., Topton.