BARBARA SUMMERS

SUMMERS Barbara H. Summers (Age 85) On May 7, 2019 Barbara H. Summers of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away peacefully with her family by her side. Beloved wife of 67 years of James A. Summers, Jr.; loving mother of Rick (Trixi) Summers, the late Kathleen (Sean) O'Neil and Steve (Chrissy) Summers; dear grandmother of Desiree (Scott) Goodman, Melissa (Doug) Leone, Colleen O'Neil (Will Black), Sean O'Neil, Jr., Nikki Summers, James Gernot Summers, Haley Marie Summers and Morgan Summers; dear great-grandmother of Asher Goodman and Aiden, Bane, Courtney and Dominic Leone. No pleasure ever meant as much as family did to Barbara (not even chocolate). Barbara is also survived by many other loving relatives and friends. I first got the idea of writing my own obituary when I began to realize that I had a bad heart. I considered what I would want said at my own funeral and who would write it. Well, who knows me better than me? Here goes: I never wanted to arrive at a party late nor to leave early but to enjoy each moment of living and being with friends. My parents John and Elinor Howard provided a wonderful home, great food, and all the amenities of a loving good life including belonging to a country club in the days before community or private home pools so I had a playground in which to swim, play cards and make friends. The only rule I remember from childhood was that I had to come home when the street lights came on and keep my hands off the wall paper as I climbed the stairs. We vacationed at the Hotel Royalton in Ocean City, Maryland each year from the summer before I was born and each year till I was grown. My father would take a dip before breakfast each morning and entertain us with his imitation of a porpoise and mother loved to go in the ocean but couldn't swim so limited herself to the side stroke. Throughout my school years I made life long friends at Lafayette Elementary, Westbrook, Leland, Jr. High and BCC Class of '51. I spent one semester at Westhampton College before marrying my high school sweetheart,Jim Summers, with whom I have shared over 67 years. Jim is the nicest person I know. I was able, while working at CIA, to help pay Jim's tuition to George Washington University which then allowed me to then spend my life raising our children, Rick, Steven and Kathleen Summers O'Neil while playing tennis, golf and Bridge to my heart's content. Bridge, which I learned in the 5th grade, was always my favorite and an avenue to keep mentally challenged and to make many new friends. I spent time volunteering and raising money for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, private charities and tried to help anyone I knew was in need. Sometimes, at the risk of offending friends, I would find myself unable to sit on the side lines when I felt I could help. Eleanor Roosevelt was my idol and her view that "she would rather light candles all over the world rather than sit and curse the darkness" was my motto. I was an avid reader, once I grew up and stopped playing ball outside with the neighborhood kids, and was never without a book at my side. Doris Kearns Goodman and David McCullough were my favorite contemporary authors. I was what today is called a stay at home Mom, but you would have been hard pressed to find me there as I was always out and about. I watched every performance of each of our children's activities--football with Rick, ballet with Kathleen and baseball, basketball and tennis with Steven. Our family boated: first with a 16 ft. Boston Whaler teaching many friends to water ski, then a cabin cruiser, The Bobsy Twin, which we docked at the Chesapeake Yacht Club on the West River. We spent most every weekend on the boat and I remember having Steven in an infant seat aboard with life jacket on when he was six months old. Our last boat was a Mako for Ocean Fishing that Jim kept in Hatteras. If you have read this far I would include that I have been incredibly lucky to have been born in the USA (and always stood with my hand over my heart anytime the National Anthem was played, even when absolutely alone and watching TV.) Grateful to have been born here and quite proud to have lived here. I have been able to spend countless hours doing what I wanted to do with the financial means to live my life free from financial worries. I enjoyed all of our travels to England, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, China and the Carribean. Our favorite island in the Carribean was Grand Cayman where we snorkeled at what we named Barbara's beach. I hope it will be said of me that I shared the joys I had been given and helped others whenever possible. I tease that so and so is in Book I, Volume I of my dearest and closest friends when everyone I have had the pleasure of knowing is really in the First Volume. The family will receive friends at PUMPHREY'S COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Montgomery Ave, Rockville, MD on Monday, May 13, 2019 from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Barbara's name to breastcancer.org. Please view and sign the family's online guestbook at www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com