James Sumner

James Perry Sumner, 76, of Greensburg, PA, died at home on Thursday, June 3, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born November 30, 1944, in Mobile, AL, a son of the late Webb and Eloise Sumner.  Jim graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1966. He was listed in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, and he was president of his senior class.  Upon graduation, Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam 1967 - 1968.  He was a captain in the USMC and was awarded the Purple Heart.  After returning from Vietnam, Jim was stationed at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he met his future wife, Roxie Wright, who was working at the Pentagon.  They were married in a military wedding ceremony in Washington, D.C. in Nov. 1969.  After his discharge from the USMC in 1970, Jim began his career in the railway supply and steel industries.  He was president of Edgewater/Oakmont Steel and Pennsylvania Cold Drawn Steel.  Jim was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg, serving as ruling elder trustee.  He was Director of SCORE (a nonprofit resource partner of the Small Business Administration-SBA) for Western PA, and he was vice president of MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) in Greensburg.  He was a former Chairman of the Board of Redstone Highlands and a past president of SCORE.  He also volunteered at Christian Layman Corps and for the Salvation Army.  Jim was a member of the Latrobe Country Club and the Polo Club.  He enjoyed biking, golf, reading, traveling, playing bridge, and planting flowers in his own yard and with the Latrobe mini gardens program.  Each morning Jim liked to email copies of the daily newspaper crossword puzzles to family and friends with his thoughts for the day.  Jim will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Pamela Rathers.  He is survived by his wife of over  51 years, Roxie Sumner, two children, daughter, Ginger Sumner Mauro (Tony) of West Chester, and son, James Perry Sumner, Jr. (Christine) of Greensburg; five grandsons, John, Danny and Luke Mauro and Quinton and Jay Sumner; brother, Bill Sumner (Jane) of Memphis, brother-in-law, Gregg Wright (Elizabeth) of Bettendorf, Iowa, and five nieces, Lee, Amy, Melanie, Kathryn, and Jamie.  A memorial service will be held for Jim at the First Presbyterian Church 300 S. Main Street, Greensburg on Friday, June 11th at 1 p.m with Rev. Dr. Martin Ankrum officiating. The service will be live streamed by visiting https://www.firstpresbyteriangreensburg.com/memorial-service.html. KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME is entrusted with the arrangements.  Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg, 300 South Main Street, Greensburg, PA  15601. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.