(This obituary was submitted by the parents of Samuel Waters)

Samuel James Waters passed into his new life the morning of January 27, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He yearned for heaven and to be with his Lord and savior. He had lived well during a five-year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer. He was 22 years old.

Samuel, a 2011 graduate of George Mason High School, was a senior at Rice University in Houston, TX. He was studying to be an opera singer. His beautiful tenor voice was just one of his many gifts. Chiefly, he was a young man who knew how to love and be loved. His enthusiasm for all that was good, true and beautiful in this life was infectious to those in his circle of influence. Most recently, he captured his clear thoughts about life, death and faith in a WordPress blog called SamwiseWaters. The blog has also been published in the Falls Church News-Press.

He leaves behind his parents, Jim and Claire Waters, and brother Tyler Waters, all of Falls Church, Va.

The funeral will be held on Monday, February 15, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Cherrydale Baptist Church, 3910 Lorcom Ln, Arlington, Va. 22207. Reception is immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Samuel J. Waters Memorial Fund for the Arts” to support arts education in Falls Church, Va. Checks may be mailed to 604 Oak Haven Dr., Falls Church, Va. 22046.