Dr. I.L. "Len" Sumner's Obituary
Dr. Len Sumner, former headmaster of Presbyterian Day School, passed away on March 20, 2018. Born October 30, 1935 in Greenville, SC, he was a graduate of Clemson University. Len had a noteworthy career as a tennis player, serving as captain and number one player at Clemson and winning several city and state titles. He taught English at the Baylor School in Chattanooga for thirteen years, where he was also varsity tennis coach. Sumner’s Baylor teams were unbeaten in his tenure, winning 71 consecutive matches, 3 state titles, and 2 national titles.Prior to joining PDS in 1979, Len was headmaster of the Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, Georgia. He received his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and University of Memphis respectively. During his years at PDS, he served terms as president of the Memphis and Tennessee Associations of Independent Schools. Len loved his twenty-one years at PDS and felt them to be a true blessing. He loved his students, teachers, parents and board members. Upon his retirement, the TAIS honored him with the Sawney Webb Award for distinguished service to independent schools. PDS honored him by naming the school library Sumner Library.As a hobby, Len studied and admired grizzly bears for many years and participated in grizzly bear institutes in the Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. He is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Wafler (Porter); a son, Robert Sumner (Mary) and two granddaughters, Olivia Wafler and Katie Sumner. Though she did not survive him, Len adored Sibyl, his high school sweetheart and wife of fifty-three years.Visitation will be Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Connector at Second Presbyterian Church with the funeral service at 3:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Burial will be at Memorial Park immediately following the service.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the PDS Teachers Endowment Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.
What’s your fondest memory of I.L.?
What’s a lesson you learned from I.L.?
Share a story where I.L.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with I.L. you’ll never forget.
How did I.L. make you smile?