Obituary of Paul Sumner

Paul Edward Sumner 92, of Oakland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Born August 04, 1924, in Guthrie Center, Iowa, son of Edward and Enid Sumner, brother to James, Miriam, Marietta, Phyllis and Jean. Paul grew up in Iowa and attended local schools. In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Paul, who was not old enough to enter the military, decided to help his country by enrolling in school to become an airplane mechanic. He was drafted in 1943, placed in the Army Air Corps and sent for training at Kearns Field in Utah. He then also spent time in the Army Specialized Training Program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Eventually, at Camp Adair in Oregon, he trained as a 60 mm mortar gunner with the 70th Infantry Division. He was shipped overseas late in 1944 and arrived in France and then Germany, where he endured 78 consecutive days of combat, which included the Germans' Operation Nordwind offensive. With the 70th Infantry Division, he helped liberate an estimated 60 cities and villages. Paul reenlisted for another 18 months of service after the war and returned to Germany as part of an occupation force. Upon returning to the US, Paul attended Iowa State College, graduating in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in general engineering and a minor in journalism. His engineering and journalism expertise eventually led him to Phillipsburg, where he worked in advertising for Ingersoll-Rand. He met his beloved wife of 61 years, Margaret "Peg" Varholy, while working at Ingersoll-Rand and they were married October 15, 1955. They raised three children. When Ingersoll-Rand shifted advertising to an office in Woodcliff Lake, he moved his family to Oakland, in 1974. Paul retired from Ingersoll-Rand after 37 years, but continued working for the company for another 15 years as a consultant. A busy family man, he was also very active in many community organizations including The Oakland/ Franklin Lakes Rotary Club, The American Legion Post 369, The Knights of Columbus, The Republican Club, the Public Events Committee, the Seniors Club and the Library Board. Paul joined the Rotary Club in April of 1988 and served as president from 1994 - 1995; at one point or another he held all club offices from Sargent thru Board of Directors. Paul was also active at his church Our Lady of Perpetual Help where he sang in the choir for many years, delivered food to the needy and more recently served as a greeter. In 2000, he joined the 70th Infantry Division Association and served two years as the North Region Vice-President, then two years as President. In 2013, Paul was honored as the grand marshal of the Oakland Memorial Day parade, held on May 26. Paul loved to travel both domestically and internationally, photography, and spending time with friends and family especially his grandchildren. Paul is survived by his oldest son Curt and wife Lisa of Goshen, NY, grandson Justin and wife Dyanna, great grandson Chase and great granddaughter Vivian, grandson Tate and fiancée Mia, daughter Carla and husband Scott Trivisani, of West Milford, NJ, youngest son Mark and wife Giane of Mahwah, NJ and grandson Ryan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The American Legion - Oakland Memorial Post No.369 (P.O. Box 274, Oakland, NJ, 07436) or the Oakland/Franklin Lakes Rotary Club (P.O. Box 42, Oakland, NJ 07436). Paul was not only someone who fought for his country but also someone who loved his community and set an example of selflessness and integrity. Most of all, he loved his family and each moment we spent with him will be cherished forever…we love you Dad!