Donald Paul Sumner Sr.

peacefully at Vantage Pointe Village on November 28, 2020 to join his loved

ones in heaven.

He was born in St. Petersburg, Florida to Robert Luther and Ruth Naomi Sumner

on January 22, 1926 and spent most of his childhood in St. Petersburg and Miami.

He enlisted in the United States Army the day after his high school graduation

and served our country in Europe during World War II. Mr. Sumner was combat

wounded in Belgium and became part of a group of 100 amputee candidates who

were selected to test the effectiveness of a new drug called Penicillin. He was

honorably discharged, receiving the Purple Heart for frostbite wounds suffered

during the Battle of the Bulge.

A 35-year retiree of BellSouth, Mr. Sumner was also a sign painter, providing weekly

front window signage to dozens of Bi-Rite/Food Town grocery stores throughout

Nashville. He became known as ‘Don Sr.’ when he partnered with his son, ‘Don Jr.’,

in 1965 to launch Nashville’s first special events decorating company, Decorating

Service of Nashville, which later became Events Plus, Inc.

He volunteered to serve as Scoutmaster of Troop 272, and promoted the benefits of

the Boy Scouts of America program to CEOs of major corporations across the country.

Mr. Sumner earned the Wood Badge, and was a recipient of the Long Rifle Award and

Silver Beaver Award in honor of his service.

He was a man of strong Christian faith and a highly committed layperson in several

local Church of the Nazarene congregations. With his engaging personality and great

smile, Mr. Sumner never met a stranger while serving as a greeter for many years.

Mr. Sumner is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Luther and Ruth Naomi

Sumner; his wife of 51 years, Sarah (McClain) Sumner; and his wife of 10 years,

Bobbie (Steele) Sumner. He is survived by his sons, Donald Jr. (Debbie) of Mount

Juliet; Bert (Deborah) of College Grove; and daughter Beverly (Larry) Smith of

Ashland City, along with 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

He touched the lives of many and left behind a great legacy.

A Celebration Of Life will be conducted at Grace Church of the Nazarene, 2620

Pennington Bend Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37214 on Thursday, December 3, 2020

at 1pm. Visitation from 10am-12 noon. A family graveside service will immediately

follow.

All are invited to join this celebration!