AUGUSTA,, Ga. - Raymond Thomas Sumner, Sr. was born in Kathleen, Fla. to John William and Elodie Hays Sumner, one of six children. After graduation from high school in 1945, he joined the Merchant Marines and sailed on a Liberty Ship until March, 1946. He enlisted in the Army in July of the same year and completed his basic training at Ft. Polk, La. While serving in Germany from 1948 to 1952 - where he participated in the Berlin Air Lift - he married the love of his life, Pearl Marie Brownell (Brownie), a young soldier in the Women's Army Corps. After their marriage in June, 1951 in Berlin, the couple returned state side and settled at Camp Hanford, Wa. Brownie and their new son returned to Kathleen while R.T. served his country in the Korean War from 1952-1953. Upon his return, the family relocated to Ft. Gordon, Ga. and then to Ft. Jackson, SC and welcomed a baby girl into the family. Their travels continued with stops in Frankfurt, Germany and Alexandria, La. In 1963, R.T. received orders for Vietnam and Brownie and the children once again called Kathleen their home. R.T. served throughout 1964 as a weapons advisor for the South Vietnamese Army. For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He returned safely home to his family on Christmas Eve, 1964. In 1965, R.T. and Brownie bought a home in Augusta, never to move again. He retired in 1967 at Ft. Gordon having served his country with distinction for over twenty years. As fate always clears a path for honest men, R.T. stumbled upon a second career, and his love for the military once again flourished. From 1967 to 1988, he worked at the Academy of Richmond County as a JROTC instructor where he was in charge of the Rifle Team. His commitment to education was only surpassed by his love of God and family. Upon his retirement, he was honored with a presentation of the PSG Raymond T. Sumner Memorial Saber which still graces the many ROTC ceremonies at Richmond Academy. R.T. remained a loyal Augustan. He served as a member of the Fort Gordon Retiree Council and remained active at his church, serving as an Elder, Trustee, Sunday School Superintendant, and President of the congregation. He and Brownie traveled the world by plane and the country by motor home. R.T. left this world with few regrets. He was a happy man. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Brownie. His legacy includes two children and four grandchildren, all living in Augusta. Patricia Sumner Duggan and her husband, Dr. Asa Daniel Duggan Jr., have two sons - Asa Daniel Duggan III and John Sumner Duggan. Raymond Thomas Sumner Jr. and his wife, Jennifer Collier Sumner, also have two sons - Philip Benjamin Sumner and William Blake Sumner. R.T.'s brother, Philip Shaw Sumner, his sister-in-law, Pauline Sumner, and numerous nieces and nephews live in the Kathleen area. He will be missed by his wife's family in Wisconsin. Funeral services will be held 10 A.M Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Rev. Roger Schwartz officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Deans Bridge Road. Honorary Pallbearers are Frank Nagles, John Kerr, Chuck Reed, Jim Huggins, Curly Winters, Dale Groenenboom, Claudis Birdsong, and David Whitehead.