The oldest child of Charles F. Sumner and Vera Vogt Sumner, Charles was raised to have strong family values and a strong work ethic. He had his first job at age 14 and would attend high school during the day and work nights. After graduating Reagan High School, he joined the Army and proudly served in the 82nd Airborne. Following an honorable discharge from the Army and obtaining a liberal arts degree, Charles owned a custom home building business until he retired in his seventies. He was a member of the Greater Houston Home Builders Association and a licensed real estate broker.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Camille, to whom he was married for 63 years. In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by his sister Joan and her husband Bill Fain, his brother Richard, his nephew Don Sumner Jr. and granddaughter Hope Sumner. Charles is survived by his brothers, Donald Morbeck and wife Johanna and George and wife Mary, sister-in-law, Sharlot Sumner and many nieces and nephews.
Charles took immense pride in his family and leaves behind one son and five daughters, Charles and Karen Beth Sumner, Cynthia and Jack MacKinnon, Carol Hartley, Cheryl and David Cook, Caren and Michael Neuman, and Cathleen and Michael Wheir. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, Charles, Nick, Kirk and wife Aela, John and wife Janet, Lee and wife Gretchen, Patricia, Cathleen and husband Jeff, Jessica and husband Eric, Dylan, Adam, Michael and wife Teresa, Melesa and husband Dirk, Megan and husband Stephen, Kelli, Emily and husband Jacob, Samuel, Stephen, Andrew, Christopher and Caroline and 13 great grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly.
Charles was known as a man who worked hard and put his family first. He was always telling a joke or singing a tune and was kind to everyone. He was a true “gentleman and a scholar.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Charles’ memory.
