Erma B. Kummer

Erma B. Kummer was born on September 16, 1925 in Huntington, West Virginia, the third of seven children born to Walter and Mabel McComas. Named “Erma Emazetta McComas”, her grandfather later changed her middle name to “Belle”. Working as a carpenter, her father moved the family frequently in search of employment. While working at Bailey’s Cafeteria in Huntington in 1941, Erma met her first “true boyfriend” and future husband, Kenneth Kummer, a B&O RR employee from Baltimore. Four years later, at the age of nineteen, she traveled alone by train to San Bernardino, California, to be married to Kenneth, who was stationed there with the US Army Air Corps. Upon Kenneth’s discharge from the Army, they moved to Baltimore. Their first child, Kenneth Jr, was born in 1946, but died one month short of his first birthday. Deborah was born in 1949 and Kevin in 1957. They moved to Ellicott City, MD, in 1961 and lived in their home there until moving to a retirement community in 2008.

Erma was a loving wife and mother, an excellent cook and homemaker, a compassionate friend, and, as more than one person has put it, “the nicest person I ever met!” She was active in the Rolling Hills Woman’s Club and, after both children were in school, worked at Columbia Bank & Trust. Although brought up in a church-going family, her faith in Christ blossomed through her involvement with Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, where Erma and Ken formed deep friendships in what became their beloved spiritual family. She also became an avid reader and a true world traveler, notching eight trips to Europe and a visit to the Holy Land in Israel. As Kenneth’s health deteriorated she devoted herself to caring for him until his death in March 2010 just a few weeks after their 65th wedding anniversary.

On December 11, 2011, she quietly went to be with her Lord and be reunited with her beloved husband, son Kenneth Jr, great granddaughter Taylor Sanders, and other family members and friends who preceded her in death.

She is survived by daughter Deborah Sanders and husband Mark; son Kevin Kummer and wife Maria Ortega Kummer; sister Susan Davis and brother James McComas; granddaughter Stephanie Davis and husband Aaron; grandson Timothy Sanders and wife Jennifer; grandson David Kummer; great grandchildren Joshua, Sophia, Katherine, and Caroline Davis; and great grandchildren Abigail and Alexis Sanders.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Sterling Ashton Schwab Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228, on Friday, January 6th, 3-5 and 7-9pm. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, January 7th, 10am at Loudon Park Cemetery. Following the graveside services, a memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 12noon at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, Charlestown, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228. Online condolences may be made at www.sterlingashtonschwabwitzke.com.