Tony Ivan Sumpter, 87, of Floresville, Texas, passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, Feb. 6, 2021, in SAMMC in San Antonio. Tony was born June 14, 1933, in Russell, Kan., to Jack Allen and Marie K. Dowdy Sumpter. He was one of seven children.
Tony married the love of his life, Wilma Jean Marlow, from Lake City, Tenn., on Jan. 18, 1958. They had four daughters that know he hung the moon, and they gave him five wonderful grandsons, one precious granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren, who know he hung the moon and then some!
Tony served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. Throughout those years, he traveled overseas and was stationed various places in the States until he settled in San Antonio. While in the Army, he served in the Korean War in the Tank Division. In the Air Force, he served in radar communications. He enjoyed sharing some of his military experiences with his daughters and grandchildren. He shared some hilarious stories of his time, and some stories he never wanted to share. After retiring from the military, Tony worked for the Northside Independent School District for 19 years, where he worked with the mentally and physically challenged, teaching them many trades, from woodworking skills to silk screening.
Tony and Wilma’s final retirement location was Floresville, where he resided for more than 28 years. They worked very hard on their few acres, alongside their children and grandchildren. They cleared every square inch of it and finished out the house, making it the beauty that it is today. He loved having barbecues at their home, inviting everyone he could.
Tony was like a kid when it came to his birthday. His daughters would see some-one he knew and say, “Hey, Dad’s birthday is coming up and we are having a party!” The response would be, “Didn’t he just have one?” That didn’t matter, it could be his birthday, Easter, Fourth of July, or Mom’s birthday, and it was time to have a party. The family all worked hard, getting the yard to look nice, saying each time, “We aren’t doing this again ... until next time!” It was always so fun, even when he wasn’t able to participate in the party preparations physically. The family all knew what he liked and did it for him and Mom.
Tony enjoyed fishing and took his girls out from an early age. He would always tell them, “Be quiet or the fish won’t bite!” They have wonderful memories of all their camping and fishing trips with their parents. He always had a love of different animals, having “pet” chickens, ducks, rabbits, and parakeets while living in the city limits of San Antonio. When he moved to the rural area of Floresville, he became involved in helping out in his community. Tony and Wilma loved decorating their house every year for Christmas to the max! It brought them great joy when they saw cars driving slowly by their home each night, enjoying his and his family’s labor of love.
Tony was always a hard-working man, joining the military at the age of 17, and working at least two jobs while his girls were young so his wife could stay home with them. He loved his wood-working crafts and making anything possible. As his “sons” would say, he never did anything easy! He would work on something until he found a way to do it. Even after he lost his vision physically, he never lost it in his heart. He got to where his “sons” became the repairmen and craftsmen he could no longer be, but they consider it a great honor to be able to use some of the skills he had shared with them.
Tony collected coins when he was younger but had to pause his collection so he could buy necessities for his girls. He restarted his coin collection again a few years ago. He would use this huge magnifying monitor in order to see the dates on the coins. It was the thrill of the hunt looking for that one coin he was lacking. He would share with his daughters and grandchildren his collection or recent find. His gifts for various occasions would be a roll of pennies, quarters, or dimes for him to look through. The banks were always so kind when he would bring the “change” back in. The local tellers would save coins they found to ask him if it was worth anything or just to give to him. He was always so pleasant to be around. He was an ornery one, joking, harassing, or prodding at you. He always got it in return, though, and enjoyed every single minute of it!
Those who knew him loved him and immediately became family. He was Dad to his “adopted children,” Uncle to others, and Papa to many. Through all his many health issues, he always found a positive side and used his humor to get through it all. He was a great provider, full with love, honor, and value of family. Although he was 87 years young, he left us all way too soon.
His family cannot say enough thank-you’s to the “family” of doctors, nurses, technicians, and all at Wil-ford Hall Medical Center and SAMMC for all of the loving care they gave their father all these many years! We are so blessed to have you in our lives.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings Jack A. Sumpter, Louie Sumpter, Jerry Sumpter, Sally Simpson, and Rex Sumpter.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, Wilma J. Marlow Sumpter; his daughters, Kathryn M. (Mark) Woodall of Clifton, Tina L. (Robert) Smith of Floresville, Theresa A. (Brian) Morehous of Floresville, and Toni L. (Patrick) Spengler of San Antonio; his grandsons, Tony Smith of Floresville, Matthew (Monica) Woodall of Princeton, Michael (Kelly) Smith of Schertz, Jacob Woodall of Clifton, and Andrew Morehous of Floresville; his grand-daughter, Emily Morehous of Floresville; his great-grandchildren, Chase and Keelie Smith and their mother, April of Floresville; his only surviving brother, Max Sumpter of Oswego, Kan.; sister-in-law Helen Sumpter (widow of Jerry) of Montour, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
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