Samuel T. Watts, age 20, a resident of Wheaton, IL, and a member of the 1/508 Rifle Company and the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Afghanistan, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD. He was born August 14, 1991 in Elmhurst, IL.

Sam attended elementary and junior high at St. John Lutheran School in Wheaton, IL and graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2010. He was an avid BMX biker. He was a student at Technology Center of DuPage in Addison in the Fire Science program and hoped to serve as a Fireman after his service in Afghanistan. He was known as a man who could be himself around anybody and loved the people around him. He loved adventure and was constantly moving. In his short time here he lived a full life.

He is survived by his parents, Thomas and Susan Watts of Wheaton, IL; three siblings, Sarah Watts of Springfield, IL, Andrew Watts of Wheaton, IL, and Abigail Watts of Wheaton, IL; his paternal grandmother, Ruth Watts of Addison, IL; his maternal grandfather, Paul J. Keehn of Arlington Heights, IL; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 from 3-9 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 410 N. Cross St., in Wheaton, IL. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Wounded Warrior Project, 1111 W 22nd Street, #620, Oakbrook, IL 60523.