GEORGE SUMMERLIN
Died Oct. 17, 2009
MOREHEAD CITY -- George Summerlin, 73, died Saturday at his home.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bogue Banks Baptist Church, with visitation following the service. A memorial service will be also be held in Mount Airy at Grace Moravian Church Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
Mr. Summerlin started working in the newspaper business as a teenager at the News-Argus in Goldsboro. He retired from the Mount Airy News in 2002 after working as publisher for 29 years.
He was the president of the Mount Airy Merchants Association, the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Atlantic Advertising, Executives Association and the North Carolina Association of Daily Newspapers.
He helped organize the Surry County Economic Developmental Partnership and served one term as chairman. He was on the board of directors of Reeves Community Center in Mount Airy, United Fund of Mount Airy, the North Carolina Press Association, University of North Carolina School of Journalism Foundation and the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, where he was one of the founders of the museum.
He was co-chairman of the drive to build the War Memorial on Main Street in Mount Airy. He was awarded the Merchant of the Year in 1977 and Citizen of the Year in 1979 in Mount Airy.
He was a member of Bogue Banks Baptist Church, Grace Moravian Church and the Mount Airy Rotary Club for over 30 years and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
He served in the National Guard.
He enjoyed gardening, woodworking and fishing.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Patti Bowman Summerlin of the home; siblings, Lee Summerlin Jr. of Goldsboro, John Summerlin and wife, Maxine, of Mount Olive, Marie Walker of Philadelphia, Pa., and Louise Mohr of Baltimore, Md.; children, Anthony Summerlin and wife, Mary, of Morehead City and Wendell Summerlin and wife, Vonda, of Walnut Cove; stepchildren, Neal Bowman and wife, Lisa, of King, Johnny Bowman and wife, Pam, of Cana, Va., and Kelly Bowman and wife, Beth, of Mocksville; grandchildren, Joseph Summerlin of Duncan, S.C., Wesley Summerlin of Spartanburg, S.C., Charles Summerlin of Mount Airy, Lane Summerlin of Greensboro, Matthew and Andrew Bowman both of Cana, Va., Catlin Bowman of Norfolk, Va., Courtney Bowman of Mocksville, Jessica McGuire of Allenhurst, Ga., Justin Rothrock of Raleigh and Cody Rothrock of Walnut Cove; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Ella Summerlin, and a brother, Billy Summerlin.
Memorials may be made to Bogue Banks Baptist Church, 1417 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, N.C., 28512, or Grace Moravian Church, 1401 N. Main St., Mount Airy, N.C.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.
George has gone fishing.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 20, 2009 1:48 PM