Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — William Bruce Sumner was born March 25, 1925 to William R. and Mabel (Pohlson) Sumner in Boulder, Colo. Bill had two younger sisters and their childhood was mainly spent in the Colorado Springs area. One set of his grandparents and several uncles were ranchers in the Calhan area east of Colorado Springs and many of his enjoyable memories of the growing up years were in that area.

Bill’s father and uncle owned a potato chip processing plant in Colorado Springs and his first “paying” job was sacking and delivering potato chips. He enjoyed the fact that he was able to drive below the legal age because of his job.

At the age of 15, Bill met his lifelong sweetheart Dorothy Jeanne Hawley at a church camp near Beulah, Colo. He said it was love at first sight and he must have been right. Bill and Dorothy were married at the Denver First Church of the Nazarene, June 8, 1945 and celebrated 62 years of marriage last June. Three children were to later bless their home: Karen (Walchle), Gary Sumner and Cheryl (Niehoff).   

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Bill entered the United States Coast Guard in 1945 and spent much of his service duty aboard the USS Eridanus in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After receiving his honorable discharge, Bill received a degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Ill. and started his professional career with Law Mortuaries in Colorado Springs. He worked for a number of mortuaries in the Front Range area and, in 1963, decided it was time to invest in his own business. He and Dorothy purchased the Conley Funeral Home that year and moved their family to Montrose — where he and Dorothy worked side by side in successfully operating what became Valley Funeral Home and Valley Lawns Cemetery. They sold the business in 1982 and for a short time resided in Sun City, Ariz., where Bill got to enjoy, almost daily, his passion for playing golf. Missing their family and friends in the Montrose area soon brought them back “home” to Montrose where they have resided since.

After returning to Montrose, Bill enjoyed his hobby of woodcraft and blessed many homes with his TV trays, book cases, bread boxes, reading tables, children’s tables, chairs and many other things.

Early in life, Bill dedicated his life to the Lord and encouraged others to do the same. Bill shared his faith in many ways but most of all in the way he lived his life - always striving to do the right thing even when others didn’t return the favor. He was especially concerned that each member of his family be encouraged to always follow the Lord that made such a difference in his life. He was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene, serving at times as board member, Sunday school teacher, and anything else that needed done.

Bill was a dedicated member of the Republican Party and served as Montrose County Coroner for several years. A political highlight for Bill was being invited, along with his dear friend, Bob Strong, to have lunch and a photograph with President George W. Bush in the summer of 2006.

In addition to many other civic activities, Bill also served on the Montrose School Board and was a very active member of the Montrose Lions Club, where he received the honor of being selected for the Melvin Jones Award.  

Bill had a host of friends and cherished them all. He will always be remembered for his positive attitude and enjoyable sense of humor. Only an illness or being out of town would keep Bill from meeting for coffee every morning at 9:15 for many years with the “Bored Members of the Montrose Think Tank.”  And, there were also the “McDonald’s Early Birds” at 6:30.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents, and sisters Dorothy Carter and MaryBeth Robinett. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Montrose, daughter Karen and husband Ralph Walchle of Ridgway, son Gary and wife Melody (Anders) Sumner of Erie, daughter Cheryl and husband Steven Niehoff of Okinawa, Japan; grandchildren, Jarrod and Pam Sumner of Fredericksburg, Va., Jacy and Joe Bower of Westminster, Colo., Bryan and Jennifer Walchle of Montrose, Travis and Kiersten Walchle of Fredericksburg, Va., and Nicholas Niehoff of Monument, Colo.

Great grandchildren include: Jordan Sumner, Cheyenne Sumner, Trenton Bowers, Elena Bowers, Emmalee Walchle, Keegan Walchle, Bohdan Walchle, Christopher Walchle and Trinity Walchle.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., at the Montrose Christian Church.  The service will conclude at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The American Red Cross, in memory of Bill Sumner, 506 Gunnison Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 (970) 242-4851 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, in memory of Bill Sumner, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402.  

Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.

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