Virginia Lee Houck Sumner

1915 - 2022  (106 years)

• Name	Virginia Lee Houck Sumner
  Born	27 Oct 1915	Delia, Jackson County, Kansas
  Gender	Female
  Died	30 May 2022	Amarillo, Potter County, Texas
  Person ID	I11129	Rossville
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2023

  
  

  Father	Howard Elisha Houck,   b. 3 Jul 1891, Delia, Jackson County, Kansas ,   d. 2 Apr 1990, Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas  (Age 98 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth M Mann Houck,   b. 17 Aug 1894, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma ,   d. 16 Feb 1986, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas  (Age 91 years)
  Married	24 Jan 1915	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
  Documents » Slide Show		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 1 Delia Couple Wed 50 Years Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Houck of Delia will observe their 50th wedding anniversary at an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, January 24, at the Delia High School. They were married January 24, 1915, at Oklahoma City Oklahoma; then came to the Delia community where they have resided since. They have seven living children, Mrs. Virginia Lee Sumner, Mrs. Beth Sumner, both of Hereford, Texas; Lawrence, John and Richard Houck of Sacramento, Calif.; C.M. Sgt. Wendell Houck of Hamilton Air Force Base, Calif.; and Major Leroy Houck, McCoy Air Force, Orlando, Florida. They also have 18 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 2 Are honored on 56th anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Howard Houck of Delia were honored by their children on the occasion of their 56th wedding anniversary with a family dinner and reception Jan. 24. The dinner and reception were held at the Women’s Club house in Galt, California. Their children and families are: Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Houck, Mr. and Mrs. John Houck of Galt; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Houck, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Houck, Sacramento, Calif.; Lt. Col. and Mrs. Leroy T. Houck, Colorado Springs; Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Sumner, Hereford, Tex.; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sumner, Tacoma, Washington. All were present with the exception of Richard, who was seriously ill at his home. There are 20 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Present from this group were Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Houck, Tommy, Jeff and Brian, Gary Houck and Ann Marie, Seaman Bob Houck and Mrs. Houck of San Diego, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Bryant, Mrs. Bryant Gomes, Mr. and Mrs. Don George, Kelly and Sheree, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Hodges and Allen, Tacoma, Wash.; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Sumner, Concord', Calif.; Jean Houck, Lance Sumner, James and Dean Houck, Gregory, Scott, and Brent Houck. Other relatives and friends present were: Mr. and Mrs. Oren Stalker, Mrs. Don Sonicksen, San Jose, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Goddard, Culver City, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Clemans, Clovis, Calif.; The Rev. and Mrs. Robert Hersh and Bob Jr., Turlock, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Streight Locke, Woodland, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pfeiffer Jr. and children, Yuba City, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Merrit, Washington, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Steiner, Mrs. Ronnie Lloyd and Ronnie Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pfeiffer, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Clark and daughters, Miss Paula Almac, Mrs. Thorp, all of Sacramento; and friends from Atwood, California.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 3 Open House Reception For The Howard Houcks Mr. and Mrs. M. W. (Ted) Sumner, Hereford, Tex.; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sumner, Tacoma, Wash.; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Houck, Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Houck and Mr. and Mrs. John Houck, both of Galt, Calif; Col. and Mrs. Leroy Houck, North Bay, Canada; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Houck, Carmichael, Calif.; are hosting an evening reception for their parents’, (Mr. and Mrs. Howard Houck) 60th wedding anniversary which was January 24th. Friends and relatives are invited to the Rossville Community Building Tuesday, March 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 4 Houcks Celebrate 60th Anniversary on January 24 Mr. ar.d Mrs. Howard Houck celebrated 60 years of married life on January 24th. They have been honored at a number of dinners. Their son Laurence and wife of California were here to celebrate with them and took them to dinner on the night of January 24. Delia Presbyterian Church held a reception for the Houcks on Sunday with the traditional cake and punch. Mr. and Mrs. Houck received many cards and letters.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 5 65th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, January 20, Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Houck of Rossville were honored guests at the Delia Presbyterian church for a bountiful dinner in the church basement, put on by the con-gregation, friends, relatives and acquaintances celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. Seventy person signed the guest book. A money tree was an interesting centerpiece on the guest book table. Punch and a lovely cake was served later in the day. Mr. and Mrs. Houck were married in the home of a friend in Oklahoma City January 24, 1915. They are the parents of seven living children. Their entire married life had been spent in the Delia community until they sold their farm and moved to Rossville in the fall of 1974 where they now reside.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 6 70th anniversary is held By Dorothy Hoobler January 27, 1985 was a very special day for Mr. and Mrs. Howard Houck, Rossville. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Rossville Community Center. The reception was served by the ladies of the Delia Presbyterian Church. Having all seven of their children and their spouses home for a grand reunion made the day even more memorable. The children all came from great distances to share the occasion with other relatives and many friends and neighbors. The Houck children are Virginia and Ted Sumner, Hereford, Texas; Beth and Ray Sumner, Tacoma, Washington; Leroy and Shirley Houck, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lawrence and Marie Houck, South Lake Tahoe, Cal.; Richard and Opal Houck, Carmichael, Cal.; Wendell and Florence Houck and John and Marjorie Houck, of Galt, Cal. Also attending were four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all from California. (Howard and Elizabeth proudly counted up 20 grandchildren and 29 greatgrandchildren.) Howard and Elizabeth Mann were married on January 24, 1915 in Oklahoma City, then came back to Kansas. They settled on a farm in the area which his father, a Civil War- veteran, had settled years before. In January, 1933, they moved one mile to what became known as the family homestead, just north of Delia. In 1974, they retired to 329 Main Street in Rossville. One of their most unusual and treasured anniversary gifts was a built to scale model of the old home, which was destroyed by fire. Grandson Bob Houck spent 65 hours painstakingly making the two-story, white frame replica whit its many windows, screened-in porch, and shingle roof. The pillared front porch is complete with tiny chairs and a table. Mr. Houck explained that he spent one hour on the telephone with Bob, giving details and exact measurements. He remembered them. After all, he helped to build the house, and he lived there 70 years. The Houcks agreed they couldn't think of a gift they'd enjoy more. The model was carefully packed and hand- carried all the way from California. At 93, Howard laments the facts that cataract surgery prevents him from driving, but they just returned in late December from a four month visit in Texas, New Mexico, and California. The trip was a extended visit, because Elizabeth underwent an emergency operation for a pace maker implant when they were in Texas. Mrs. Houck laughed as she related that the surgeon was extremely reluctant to perform such surgery on a 90 year old patient. "But I don't feel like 90,” she said emphatically, as she pedaled the sewing machine, stitching carpet strips for a rag rug. The Houcks have beautiful memories of their 70th anniversary. Their many friends who attended the party had a wonderful time, too, and extend their best wishes to this very special couple.
  		Anniversary- Houck, Howard and Elizabeth 7 Houcks Celebrate 71st Anniversary Howard and Elizabeth Houck, Rossville, will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary in the quiet of their home on Friday, January 24, 1986. Friends and neighbors celebrated with the Houcks at the Delia Presbyterian Church Sunday afternoon in connection with the congregational meeting held there. The table was decorated with the same decorations used last year at their 70th anniversary. Pictures were taken and “Happy Anniversary” was sung. The top layer with all its decorations from their cake a year ago (which had been frozen) was served. The couple will appreciate cards.
  Family ID	F2080	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Melvin W (Ted) Sumner,   b. 15 Sep 1914, Delia, Jackson County, Kansas ,   d. 24 Dec 2001, Amarillo, Randall County, Texas  (Age 87 years)
  Married	3 Aug 1935	Colby, Thomas County, Kansas
  	Virginia's obituary says they were married on August 3, 1933.
  Children	1. Phyllis Jane Sumner Boston,   b. 1940   2. Ted Sumner, Jr.,   b. 1936
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2023 23:58:03
  Family ID	F5848	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents

  Obituary- Sumner, Virginia Virginia Lee Houck Sumner was born near Delia, Kansas. She attended High Prairie Country School through the 8th grade and graduated from high school in Rossville, Kansas in 1933. She attended nurses training at the Topeka, Kansas hospital. She married Melvin (Ted) Sumner August 3, 1933. After the birth of her son, Teddy in 1936, the small family moved off the family farm near Delia, Kansas, to Topeka, Kansas where daughter, Phyllis was born in 1940. Following World War Two, the family relocated to Hereford, Texas and began a custom harvesting business, working in the wheat harvest until 1986. Virginia was very active in the Hereford community as a 4-H, Cub Scout, Brownie, and Girl Scout leader. She was also very active in her church as a Sunday School teacher. Member of Kingswood Methodist Church, Amarillo and former member of First Christian Church, Hereford. She was a 50-year member of the Cultural Extension Club. She was named Deaf Smith County Club Woman of the Year in 2002. Virginia also volunteered at the Senior Citizens, serving, and delivering meals to the community. Virginia and her husband, Ted, moved to Amarillo in 1995 to be closer to family. She continued to be active and volunteered with her daughter at Sundown Lane Elementary School as a reading recovery tutor. She crocheted lap blankets for seniors and the homeless. Staying active, she attended Silver Sneakers classes at Gold's Gym where she held the title of oldest exerciser. Virginia "Nanie" Sumner was an incredibly lovely person inside and out. She adapted to each new generation with love and acceptance and will be greatly missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love her. Memorials can be made in her honor to Ceta Canyon Retreat Center. Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, Howard, and Elizabeth Houck, husband, Melvin (Ted) Sumner, son, Ted Sumner, daughter-in-law, Jeri Sumner and son-in-law, Larry Boston. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter Phyllis Boston, Amarillo, brothers: Wendell and wife, Lana Houck, Leroy Houck and John and wife, Marjorie Houck, all living in California. Grandchildren: Paul Boston and wife Cristie, OKC, Lori Grimes and husband Tim, Amarillo, Calvin Boston and wife Tammy, Amarillo, Lance Sumner, Springfield, Virginia and Tracey Sumner, Amarillo. Great grandchildren: Taylor Boston, Maddison Freas, Michael Tracy, Elizabeth Tracy, Joshua Sumner, and Rochelle Sumner and a great, great, grandchild Ellie Tracy.