Richard Lee Roy Sumpter

Richard L. Sumpter, son of the late Charles and Margaret (Ward) Sumpter, was born on March 17, 1924 in Huntsville, Missouri and departed this life on April 23, 2011 in the Rocky Ridge Manor in Mansfield, Missouri, following a long illness. He was 87 years, 1 month and 6 days of age.
Richard grew up and attended school in the Moberly, Missouri area. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II where he was stationed in France and Belgium. He earned the title of sharpshooter and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. This began a long military career, that lasted until his retirement in 1969.
Following his return from the war, he met and married his loving wife of sixty-two years, Gladys Geraldine “Jerry” Mann on November 3, 1948 in Morganfield, Kentucky. One daughter, Cindy, was born to this union.
After his retirement in from the military, they made their home in the Mtn. Grove, Missouri area. He loved living on the farm with his animals and tending to an acre garden with Jerry each year, which he enjoyed doing as long as his health permitted. He was very proud of his tomatoes each season. He enjoyed being outdoors and was known an as accomplished woodworker. Many of his neighbors and friends have his pieces in their homes to show off his work. He also spent many hours with the neighbors over morning coffee. He also liked fishing whether he was successful or not.
He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was very proud of his family and loved spending time with them. In the last several years his little dogs, “Trixie”, “Dixie”, and “Penny” brought him great pleasure.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by eight brothers: Harry, Charles, Barnard, Homer, Howard, Bill, J.R., and Jerry; and by three sisters: Bertha, Gladys, and Gertrude.
He is survived by his wife: Gladys “Jerry” Sumpter of their home; his daughter: Cindy Hayter and her husband, Gary, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; four granddaughters: Lora Turnage and her husband, Dwane, of Springfield, Missouri, Allison Asbill and her husband, Jordan, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Tracey Silva and her husband, Andy, of Haines City, Florida, and Amanda Ashcraft and her husband, Blake, of Bixby, Oklahoma; six great-grandchildren: Griffin, Caiden, Brenden, Kate, Isabella, and Alayna; several nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends who will greatly miss him.