David is survived by his loving husband of 20 years, Charles “Chuck” McClain of Atlanta, GA; his wonderful parents Walter and Margaret (Peggy) Summers of Paxinos, PA, sister Barbara (Bobbi) Summers of Blakeslee, PA, sister Patricia (Patty) Bergstrom and her husband Rodman of Milton, GA, and brother John (JC) Summers and his partner Michelle Christiana of Paxinos, PA. He is also survived by nephew Eric Summers and his wife Kayla of Coal Township, PA, niece Brooke Best and her husband Brian, and great nephew Sawyer of Allentown, PA and niece Anna Summers of Virginia Beach, VA.
David was born in Shamokin, PA on June 18, 1958. He graduated from Lourdes Regional High School in 1976. David was larger than life even at his young age and his classmates awarded him the coveted Spirit Award his senior year. David was also an artist and painted a large Red Raider (the school mascot) to hang in the gymnatorium, which still graces the high school today. After graduating high school, David aspired to develop his artistic talents and moved to New York City (NYC) to pursue a career in singing, acting and dance. At Christmas, David would return home for the holidays and perform a wonderful rendition of a Christmas song at the family church services, an annual event that the parishioners still speak about today.
During his early years in NYC, David strived to find his passion in life and eventually founded his own theatre company, ARCH Productions (Artists Raising the Consciousness of Humanity). He moved the theatre company to Lebanon, PA, where he composed plays about relevant teen issues involving crime, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse with the intent to uplift “at risk youth.” David contracted with area school districts to produce and direct these plays and mentored the teenagers who became the actors to live out the scenarios in the plays. David was so driven and proud to help youth who did not have the idyllic childhood he experienced. David moved back to the Shamokin area for a short time period before settling in the Pittsburgh area for several years to continue the expansion of ARCH Productions.
In 1995, David moved to Atlanta, GA, and continued his work with ARCH Productions for a few more years. In 2000, he met the love of his life, Chuck McClain, and together they launched successful new careers in real estate in metro Atlanta. Even after a career change, David still continued his passion for the arts by producing a thought-provoking webseries and other projects. David and Chuck spent their spare time traveling, hiking, quiet evenings at home, watching movies, enjoying the company of family and friends and especially time spent with their godson, DeAnthony Kendricks. David was also involved in the local chapter of GLAAD as well as other charitable organizations helping the homeless and people in crisis and need.
David will be held closely in hundreds of hearts as a loving son, brother, cousin, mentor, cheerleader, enduring friend and most of all for Chuck, a passionate and devoted husband. They were hardly apart during their 20 years together and 13 years of marriage.
David was blessed with so many life-long friendships going back many decades and at this, the saddest and most uncertain of times, we are comforted in the knowledge that the love David shared will live on in our hearts - and appear vibrant and alive in any place that beauty is found.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 12:00pm at H.M. Patterson & Son - Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319. All guests are required to wear a mask.
A second memorial service at his parents beautiful mountain top property in Paxinos, PA will be held at a later date. His husband Chuck McClain will notify everyone on the the date and time of the service or please visit the H.M. Patterson & Son-Ogelthorpe Hill funeral home website https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/atlanta-ga/david-summers-9133374 for updates on the planned memorial services as well as a more detailed obituary for David W. Summers.
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