Rufus Terry Summers

Rufus Terry Summers passed away peacefully on March 04, 2026, at the age of 86 yrs. He was born in Rockdale, TX to Ralph Newton Summers and Bobbie Pratt Summers. Although his family soon moved to Houston, Texas, Rufus would return in the summer to his grandparents’ home in the country where he developed a love for his Texas roots, listened to gospel music, played in the red clay of central Texas and got into general young boy mischief. The tremendous love and teaching of basic human principles that he learned from his grandparents and parents would have a tremendous effect on how Rufus would treat others under his supervision as an adult.

Rufus graduated from Aldine High School where he lettered in football. Rufus joined the Houston Fire Dept. in 1961. He reached the rank of Senior Captain and retired after 20 years of service. Rufus attended the University of Houston and in 1980 earned his Bachelor of Science in Technical Education. Rufus was hired by the City of Bellaire, Texas as the Fire Chief for the city. The family moved to Bellaire and made lifelong friends. Rufus retired from Bellaire after 18 years of service. He earned his Masters of Public Administration in 1990 and graduated from the Lyndon Johnson School of Government University of Texas in 1996.

Rufus then accepted the position of Chair of the Fire Technology Program for Houston Community College, a position that he held for 14 years. He loved teaching and he loved sharing his lifelong experiences with his students. Rufus made history while at HCC. He felt that everyone had a place in fire service and that included women. He held the first all-female firefighter cadet training class in December of 2010 at HCC. Rufus’ last position in the fire service was as Interim Fire Chief for the City of Katy. He refused the permanent Fire Chief position as he modernized the department from volunteer to a paid department. He worked for the city of Katy for three years and retired. Rufus had spent about fifty-five years in the Fire Service. He loved it. His family was the only thing that he loved more.

In the Fall of 1958 Rufus’ best friend, Charles, arranged a blind date for him to go to the Aldine homecoming game and dance. Rufus had had no intention of going and the blind date, Penny Quintero did not go on blind dates. After a lot of begging from Charles and from Penny’s best friend, Gayle, they made it to the festivities and as they say the rest is history. Rufus and Penny were married one year later on Nov. 14, 1959 in All Saints Catholic Church in the Houston Heights. They celebrated 66 years of marriage last year. Family was the single most important thing to Rufus. He delighted in his family. The family moved to Inwood Forest, a neighborhood in northwest Houston. The friendships made in Inwood are still strong today. Rufus had five children and nine grand-children. He was present at every baseball, football, soccer and volleyball game that he could possibly attend. He even attended debate tournaments and he didn’t miss a dance recital in fifteen years!

Rufus had many interests. He enjoyed public speaking and had been a member of the Galleria Toastmasters. He enjoyed golf and made a Hole in One at Hermann Park. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, history and searching for antiques for the Texas Historical home that he and Penny purchased in Anderson TX.

Rufus visited 21 countries in his travels. He climbed to the 5th station on the Wall of China and went on safari in South Africa. He took a cooking class in Istanbul and went fly-fishing in Wales. He drove all over Ireland and Scotland his two favorite countries.

Rufus was preceded in death by his parents and by his younger brother, Ralph N. Summers Jr. He is survived by his wife, Maria Penny Summers; his daughter, Natalie Baker and her husband, Ben; his daughter, Deborah Quintero and her husband, Augie; his daughter, Pamela Peterson; his son, Michael Summers and his wife, Patricia; and his son, George Summers and his wife, Jennifer. He is also survived by his grandchildren Sarah Summers Gerald and her husband, Jake; Jack Summers, Samuel Summers, Matthew Baker, Emily Baker, Jacob Quintero, Austin Quintero, Hayden Summers and Hannah Summers. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Jane Summers Boyd of Rockdale, TX.

Rufus will be loved and remembered by his family forever.

A Celebration of Rufus’ Life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 1:00 pm. at The Settegast- Kopf Company At Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Frwy., Sugar Land, TX 77478

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in his name be directed to: K-9 Angels Rescue, 9415 Winsome Ln, Houston, TX 77063