Date of death: 7/23/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1982
Arrangements have been set for Father Kevin Sumler who passed away July 23. All services will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1600 N Main St., Vidor, July 26 & 27. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Friday with a Christian Wake at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will follow at Forest Park Cemetery in Houston. Father Sumler had been on medical retirement since 2004.A native of Houston, he attended Mount Carmel High School, Houston, and finished at the now closed St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lumberton. He entered St. Mary Seminary in Houston and while there earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, in 1977.Father Sumler became a deacon in 1981 and served at St. Mary, Port Arthur.Bishop Bernard Ganter ordained Father Sumler Feb. 12, 1982, at St. Joseph, Bryan, in the Diocese of Austin.Father Sumler’s first assignment was at St. Mary, Orange, where he served as associate pastor. He also served at Our Lady of the Assumption, Beaumont, Our Lady of Sorrows, China, St. Catherine of Siena, Port Arthur, and St. James, Port Arthur. He retired in 2004.