Warren Sidney Sumner, III

Warren Sidney Sumner, III died peacefully at his home in Vero Beach, Fl. on October 23rd after a short illness. Mr. Sumner was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 11th, 1940 to Warren S. Sumner, Jr and Virginia Siler Sumner. He was raised in Birmingham, Michigan and attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Birmingham High School. He served in the United States Airforce and graduated from Arizona State University and the Pennsylvania State University Executive Management Program. Warren began his career in sales and marketing in the Detroit area working for American Chain and Cable and the Hamill Manufacturing Company. He and his family then moved to Bedford, Pennsylvania where he was the VP of sales and marketing for Hedstrom Company. In 1980, the family moved to Longmeadow, MA where he was the VP of Marketing for Milton Bradley Company. In 1987, Warren changed careers and joined the Spingler Insurance Agency. After purchasing the agency, he joined William Toner to form the Sumner Toner Insurance Agency. His son, Warren IV (Bud) joined the agency and succeeded him when he retired as Chairman in 2015.

Warren leaves his wife of 53 years, Susan (Schlachter); his daughter, Stephanie Welchans and her husband Tom of Jacksonville, Florida; his son, Warren IV and his wife Maureen of Needham, MA and his son, Christopher of Encinitis, CA. He also leaves his cherished grandchildren William, Caroline and Charlie Sumner and Sidney Welchans. He is also survived by his brother, J. William (Bill) of Grosse Pointe Park, MI and numerous nieces and nephews.

Warren filled his retirement years with many volunteer activities all of which gave him great happiness but his two favorites were volunteering for the Indian River Medical Center and serving on committees and as the President of Riomar Country Club. His avocation was the game of golf and in addition to his membership at Riomar he was a member of the Baystate Seniors Golf Association and a past member of Longmeadow Country Club and Oakland Hills Country Club.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Springfield, MA at 11 AM on November 11, 2017 with internment in Longmeadow Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held in Vero Beach at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County at 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or a charity of one’s choice.