Delbert Clair Sumner of Apison, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Hospice Care Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Delbert was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his three children—Holly Harron, Nathan Sumner and his wife Candace, Jonathan Sumner and his wife Becky, and his four grandchildren Peter and Paige Sumner and Morgan and Ashley Harron.

He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife, Carol Ann Sumner and his son-in-law, Richard Harron.

Delbert was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts on September 18, 1936, the son of Evan & Elsie (Brown) Sumner. Delbert grew up in Massachusetts on a farm with 3 brothers—Russel, Carroll, and Lynn. In 1960, Delbert was drafted into the army. Shortly after, he received an honorary medical discharge due to a muscular dystrophy diagnosis. Delbert was a graduate of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan earning a bachelor’s degree in education. Delbert married the love of this life, Carol Speer on July 15, 1962, in Bloomington, Indiana. They went on to have 3 children, Jonathan, Holly, and Nathan. During the course of his life Delbert worked on the family dairy farm, as a vacuum salesman, an orderly, a factory worker, and head teacher. Delbert loved his Lord. He had a faith that was practical and meaningful. He served as a Sabbath School teacher, school board member, and elder in the Seventh-day Adventist church. He read his Bible every day almost to the end.

Delbert spent 38 years living in Berrien Springs, Michigan, watching his children grow up. He loved to garden and had a big strawberry patch, of which his children spent many summers picking strawberries and pulling rag weeds. Delbert was a passionate bird watcher, and could name a bird by the sound they made. He was so passionate about bird watching that he would often pull over to the side of the road if he thought he saw a rare one. Over the course of his life, Delbert identified over 250+ birds.

Delbert moved in 2009 after his beloved wife Carol of 47 years passed away. Delbert lived with his son Jonathan and wife, Becky. He enjoyed puzzles, scrabble, sudoku, crossword puzzles, reading, and going to church. He also loved to travel, especially with his son Jonathan and wife, Becky. He enjoyed traveling in his RV camping and making several trips out west to visit family in Oregon, and adventures to Alaska and Canada.

Memorial service will be held at 9:30 am at Greene County Chapel Cemetery Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Burial will follow at Greene County Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Seventh-day Adventist ministries such as Adventist Development and Relief Agency or Adventist World Radio in his name.

Services have been entrusted to Welch & Cornett Funeral Home in Worthington, Indiana as well as Companion Funeral and Cremation Services in Cleveland, Tennessee.