Paul O. Summitt, 82 of Vincennes, IN passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on
Wednesday, August 8, 2018. He was born on January 25, 1936 to the late Oliver Henry Summitt and Mary Marguerite (Highsmith) Summitt in Washington, IN, moving to rural Elnora before starting elementary school.
Paul attended Elnora Township high school where he was an outstanding member of the Elnora Owls basketball team. While in high school he worked on several of the area farms, and after graduation he began work on the line at the McCord Corporation making refrigerant units. He joined the United States Army in 1960 where he was a Specialist 4th Class and was honorably discharged in 1963. While in the service, he was on the basketball team and had an article written about his contribution to the team in the “Stars and Stripes” military newspaper.
He met Gazella Granger in 1963 and married her in 1964. Paul used the G.l. Bill to attend Vincennes University while working as an Assistant Director of Housing with additional responsibility for monitoring off-campus student housing. He also was responsible for intermural sports, which had teams that included John Cougar Mellencamp and John Gregg.
Graduating from Vincennes University in 1975, Paul began a successful nearly 15 year career with the Terre Haute Pizza Hut Corporation as Manager of the Vincennes store located on North Sixth Street. His employees have remarked many times of his excellent managerial skills and how he made a difference in their lives. He was the winner of the Personal Pan Pizza Rollout in 1983 and also a trip to the Bahamas for outstanding sales. Twenty years later many former customers continued to comment on the excellent product he served. Before his retirement in July 2004, Paul returned to Vincennes University where he was employed as Financial Aid Counselor providing service to students to help them achieve their educational goals. In 2011, Paul renewed his commitment to Jesus and in 2017 he was baptized.
An avid sports fan, Paul enjoyed Indiana University basketball, Vincennes University Trailblazer basketball, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts. His last evening at home, he watched the St. Louis Cardinals. However, when he wasn’t involved with watching sports, Paul loved listening to classical music, jazz, and Broadway musicals, and especially enjoyed Andre Bocelli, Frank Sinatra, and Billy Joel. Paul had served as a volunteer along with his wife at the Food Pantry, and as a greeter for morning worship at the Vincennes First Church of God. He took great pride in caring for his lawn, and enjoyed the compliments he received from his neighbors. Paul enjoyed the morning coffee group at several local eateries.
Paul is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Gazella Ann Granger Summitt and his daughters Krista
Summitt (Purdue alum) and Dana Summitt (Ball State alum), both of Raleigh, NC. He was proud of being declared “the best grandpa in the world” by his grandson, Keegan Ferrell Summitt, also of Raleigh, and of his daughters’ educational achievements. Also surviving are his sisters, Carolyn (Jim) Behle and Betty Gregory of California, and sisters-in law Eleanor Granger-White of Carmel, IN, Joyce Summitt of Warren, OH and Peggy Summitt of OH. He is survived by eight nephews and nieces from Rhode Island, North Carolina, Ohio and California. He was preceded in death by his brother Phillip Lee Summitt and his sister Martha Joyce (George) Emmons.
Friends may visit with Paul’s family on Sunday, from 2:00 – 5:00, at the First Church of God, 1408 E. St. Clair, Vincennes, IN. The funeral service will begin at 5:00 at the church. A private family committal service will be held Monday. Goodwin Funeral Home is assisting the Summitt family.
Donations may be made to the First Church of God or Good Samaritan Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to the family through goodwinfamilyfh.com.