Luther Neil Summers Jr.

Mr. Luther Neil Summers, Jr., 93, formerly of Hiddenite, N.C., died Monday, June 30, 2014, at the Ridgecrest Assisted Living Center in Mt. Airy, N.C. Born in Iredell County on May 27, 1921, he was a son of the late Luther Neil Summers, Sr. and Annie Frye Summers. His wife of 52 years, Willie C. Elam Summers died July 21, 1996. The last of his siblings, he was preceded in death by brothers:

W. Reid Summers, Henry C. Summers, Coleman F. Summers, Robert P. Summers and Wayne Summers and sisters: Gladys Summers, Mary Ellen Stikeleather and Reba Shuford.

Mr. Summers was a graduate of Sharon High School and a 1943 graduate of N.C. State University with a BS Degree in Agriculture Education. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and graduated from Officers Candidate School in Ft. Benning, Ga. and was Commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U. S. Army Infantry. He served in the European Theater in the Third Army, was wounded and received the Purple Heart and discharged as a 1st Lt. He always maintained a deep interest in civic, educational and religious activities and made a strong contribution to his community. In 1946 he accepted a position as a vocational agriculture teacher at Hiddenite High School and remained there for 24 years. After consolidation of the high schools, he taught at Alexander Central High School for 13 years and was chairman of the Vocational Dept. for 12 years. Also at Catawba Valley Technical College, he was the Coordinator for Continuing Education Classes in Alexander County for 12 years.

He was an active member of Hiddenite United Methodist Church serving as Sunday School Superintendent and in other areas of leadership for many years. He was an active member of the Taylorsville Lions Club since 1946 and has served in almost every club office. He was a recipient of a 60 year club membership pin. On the District 31-B Lions Club level, he served as Zone Chairman, District Boys Home Chairman, District Glaucoma Chairman, Deputy District Governor and District Governor. On the State Lions Club Level, he was the Camp Dogwood Chairman for 2 years, the White Cane Chairman, President of the N.C. Lions Foundation, Inc. and a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow and John L. Stickley Fellow awards. He was active for many years in the N.C. Lions Eye and Human Tissue Bank serving as President for 2 years and a member of the executive committee and Board of Directors. He was a recipient of the Holt Memorial Award from that organization.

Mr. Summers served two terms on the Alexander County Board of Education. Two years as chairman and 5 years as vice-chairman. He served on the Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Dept. Board for 40 years and treasurer for 21 years. He also served as President of the Alexander County Retired School Personnel Association. He served as Co-Chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee for the Alexander County Senior Center Building and continued his service on that Advisory Board. In 1987, he was named Alexander County Citizen Of The Year by the Alexander County Chamber Of Commerce. In 1994 he was named Hiddenite Citizen Of The Year by the Hiddenite Ruritan Club. In 1996, he was awarded the Alexander County Schools Award Of Honor by the Alexander County Board Of Education.

Survivors include two daughters, Carole S. Kerley and her husband, Dr. Roger Kerley of Mt. Airy and Patti Routh and her husband, Tommy of Franklinville, N.C., grandchildren:Emily Conner(Lee), John Keerley (Candice), Matt Hunsucker (Randi) and Michael Kerley (Jennie), and great grandchildren: Caroline, Henry and James Conner, Corbin and Owen Kerley and Natalie Kerley.

Services celebrating Mr. Summers' life will be conducted at 11:00 Wednesday, July 2nd at Hiddenite United Methodist Church with Rev. Larry Scott, Rev. Selena Scott and Rev. Wade Wright officiaing. Burial will follow in Iredell Memorial Gardens with full military rites presented by the Iredell County Veterans Council Burial Detail. Active Pallbearers will be: John Kerley, Michael Kerley, Matthew Hunsucker, Hiram Williams, David Williams, Mark Summers, Tom Stikeleather and Lee Conner.

The family will receive friends this evening (Tuesday) at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M.

Condolences may be sent online to the family at: wwwbunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to: Hiddenite United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 146 Hiddenite, N.C. 28636, the N.C. Lions Foundation Camp Dogwood P.O. Box 39 Sherrills Ford, N.C. 28673, or to Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane # 200, Mt. Airy, N.C. 27030.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.