J. Quinton Rumph passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 94 having lived here seventy-seven years. He was born on November 8, 1923 to a farmer and his wife, Carnot and Elizabeth Rumph in Mikesviile, Florida. He was the youngest of six children, Earl, Albert, Leo, Marian and Bessie who all predeceased him.
Quinton served his country in World War II on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy and after the war was over he retired with twenty years service in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Before going on active duty Quinton attended Florida Southern College in Deland, Florida, where he met his wife to be Ann Stephens from Ruskin, Florida. He was ordered to active duty and then enrolled at the University of Miami for one year. He completed midshipman school at Northwestern University and then was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve. During World War II he was assigned to an APL (Auxiliary Personnel Living) a barracks ship as an Executive Officer.
After the war was over he married Ann and graduated from law school at the University of Florida. He practiced law briefly with his uncle Jimmy Bunch, was a sole practitioner for a while and then established his own law firm of Rumph, Franson and Clark with Charlie Franson and Harold Clark in San Marco. The firm moved into the American National Bank Building on Hendricks Avenue and later merged with former Florida governor Ferris Bryant's law firm with the successor known as Bryant, Dickens, Rumph, Franson and Miller. In 1972 he built the Ramada Inn South at University Boulevard and Interstate 95 which he owned for sixteen years. In later years he practiced law with Richard Stoddard, Demere Mason, Holt Smith and Gary Christian. His clients included Methodist Medical Center, American Title Insurance Company and Chicago Title Insurance Company.
Quinton retired from the practice of law in 1997. He was a former member of the Southside United Methodist Church, member of the Southside Lions Club and District Governor, as well as the University of Florida Gator Booster Club. Quinton was a season ticket holder at Florida Field for over fifty years.
Quinton was a member of the Riverside Park United Methodist Church for many years and, he was instrumental in establishing the Riverside Park Methodist Apartments for the elderly. He served on the board of trustees for several terms and was later named Trustee Emeritus.
In 2003 Florida Southern College awarded Quinton an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service.
Quinton is survived by his nieces Jean Owen and Jan Welch of Plano, Texas, Rhonda Gaylor of Helotes, Texas, Barbara Siegel of Franklin, North Carolina, Elizabeth Ulrich of Lohn-Ammannsegg, Switzerland, Loretta Leary of Tarpon Springs, Florida and his nephews Don Rumph of Casselberry, Florida and James D. Stephens, II of Oviedo, Florida.
A visitation will be held at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a Celebration of his life will on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at Riverside Park United Methodist Church, 819 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida, with Pastor Emily Knight, officiating. After this service internment will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida and all are invited to return to the church for a luncheon.
Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com
HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.
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