Betty Whitmire Sumner

Betty Lou Whitmire Sumner was born July 28, 1939, in Midland to Harwell and Avalyn Whitmire. A third generation Midlander, her grandparents were early Midland County settlers M. W. and Mattie May Shelton Whitmire and Joseph A. and Lillis Elliott Pogue. Until the age of three, Betty’s family lived on a farm at the site of the former Manning’s Nursery on Golf Course Road; they then moved to the E. J. Neathery Ranch in Ector County. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1956 and from Rice University in 1960 with a degree in Economics and Business Administration. She taught elementary school in Kermit and Midland and was a secretary at The Western Company.

On April 20, 1963, she married William Ulric Sumner who grew up in Hillsboro, Texas.

She became a stay-at-home mom, combining that with a career as a community volunteer, serving on and leading numerous community boards running the gamut from fine arts to education to health to city government. Included were City of Midland Planning and Zoning Commission, the PTA, First United Methodist Church, the United Way, Midland Memorial Foundation and Trinity School. She served as President of the Junior League of Midland, Chairman of the AJL Area V Council, Chairman of the Midland Hospital Board of Trustees, Hospice Midland and the Aphasia Center of West Texas.

She died June 1, 2012, in Midland following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents Harwell Callaway Whitmire and Lura Avalyn Pogue Whitmire and her brothers Col. Jack Norman Whitmire and John Perry Whitmire.

Survivors include her husband William U. Sumner of Midland, her daughter Sara Sumner Davidson of The Woodlands; her daughter Nancy Sumner Pannell and husband Jim of Midland; her son John Whitmire Sumner and wife Paige of Midland; her grandchildren Cutler William Davidson and Peter Walker Davidson, both of The Woodlands; James Callaway Pannell, Rachel Claire Pannell, Sumner Michael Pannell, Luke Elliott Pannell, Clara Avalyn Sumner and William Bryant Sumner, all of Midland; her sister Mary Whitmire Fish and husband Steve of Tempe, Arizona; Al Spinks of Midland, Texas; six nieces and nephews and several cousins. Other survivors are her beloved Lunch Bunch: Suzy Boldrick, Sara Fry, Barbara Jowell, Louan Rogers, Donnette Schwisow and Mary Jane Young. She is also survived by her honorary brother Dr. Larry Price of El Paso and her French sister, Fanchon Euverte of Kerarfourn, France.

A memorial service has been set for 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Midland with Dr. Tim Walker officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be directed to one of the organizations which Betty served, or to a charity of one’s choice.