W. Howard Sumner, 80, of Lenox died Monday, March 17, 2008 following a lengthy illness at his residence in Lenox surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Bill Allen, Dr. Danny Ray and Rev. Dillard Ensley will officiate with burial to follow in the Rutland Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jonathan Howard Sumner, Wesley Dale Sumner, Christopher Kalenian, Ty Sumner, Lee Sumner, Brad Roe, Donnie Simmons and Daniel Barber. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Tift Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary; Phyliss Pervis, representing the Tift Regional Medical Center Emergency Room; Tommy Daughtrey, Marc Holt, Grady Thompson Jr., Bobby Stone, Rick Buckley, Dr. Anthony Giatras, and Saul Eady. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Sumner was born on May 18, 1927 in Lakeland, Florida and was the son of W. L. Sumner and Mattie Willis Sumner, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one son, Danny Howard Sumner; and two brothers, Lynwood D. Sumner and A. W. Sumner. He was a retired farmer of 55 years and a member of Lakeview Baptist Church in Lenox. He served on the Volunteer Auxiliary at Tift Regional Medical Center for 30 years and served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, flying and traveling and had lived in Lenox for 60 years.
Mr. Sumner is survived by his wife, Betty Rutland Sumner of Lenox; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Dale Rutland and Betty Ann Sumner of Jennings, Florida, David Lee Sumner of Tifton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dona and Gene Palmer of Carrizozo, New Mexico, and Debi and Joel Shell of Lenox; one daughter-in-law, Sandra Sumner; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Gene C. and Faye Sumner, C. Wendel and Annette Sumner, and Cecil P. and Camile Sumner; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Betty S. Allen, Jeanette and Carvel Carson, and Susan S. and Danny Spratlin; nine grandchildren, Christopher Kalenian, Wesley Dale Sumner, Melissa S. Roe and her husband Brad, Jonathan Howard Sumner, Lee Sumner, Liz Sumner, Ty Howard Sumner, Natalie Shell and Emily Shell; and seven great grandchildren, Taylor Kalenian, Romey Rose Kalenian, Mia Kalenian, Michael Nathaniel Sumner, Lena Victoria Sumner, Jonah Wesley Sumner and Sara Grace Sumner.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Tift Area Hospice or the charity of your choice.