Joseph Summers' Obituary
Mr. Joseph Franklin Summers was called to heaven at 11:00am Wednesday January 28, 2015. He was 84 years old. Mr. Summers was the son of Frank and Ruth White Summers. Born in May of 1930 in Obion Co., TN (Hornbeak), Joe lived most of his formative years in Whitehaven, TN. Joe was an honest, caring, and learned man. He attended and graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville with Bachelors of Science in 1954. He met his beloved wife, Frances Summers at UT, and the two married in June of 1954. Joe received a Masters of Science from Colorado University in 1960. He was active in the community with many leadership roles in Boy Scout troop 30, Explorer post 30, Kiwanis club, Whitehaven Methodist Church, Gideon’s International, and was a deacon at Germantown Baptist Church. He was, at heart, a consummate educator and taught biology, chemistry, and physics for 38 years in the Memphis City school system. He received many accolades for teaching; he won the rotary teacher of the year award, and a Presidential Award of Excellence in Science and Mathematics in teaching from the National Science foundation. Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Frances Summers, Son Dr. Timothy Summers, Sr. (Kathy), Daughter Sally Nichols (Dr. Trent), Grandchildren Dr. Theodore Nichols, Aiken SC (Stacey), Frances Nichols, Knoxville TN, Timothy Summers Jr. JD, Reno NV, Laurie Summers, Collierville TN, Joseph Summers II, Collierville TN, Christopher Summers, Collierville TN, Daniel Summers, Collierville TN, Great-grandchildren Theodore Nichols Jr., Aiken SC, Joel Nichols, Aiken SC Sisters Julie McCallum, Olive Branch MS, Betsy George, Naperville IL (Richard), Brothers Ted Summers deceased (Mary Ann) Memphis TN, Samuel Summers (Jo) Knoxville TN. Receiving of friends will be from 4-6 PM on Saturday January 31st at Memorial Park, and the funeral will be 1:00 PM at the Riverside Chapel Memorial Park on Sunday February 1st. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to Rural Reelfoot Ministries or to the Gideon’s International. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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