Stanley Robert Sumner

FARMINGDALE – Stanley Robert Sumner passed away Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta. He is the son of James Robert and Grace Pearl Sumner. Stanley was born on July 28, 1937, in Charter Oak, Iowa.

In June of 1941, his family moved to Gardiner, Maine. As a youth he was a carrier of the Grit and Daily Kennebec Journal. He graduated from Gardiner High School at the age of 16, class of 1954. During high school he worked several summers in the stock room of the Gardiner Shoe Factory. Following high school, Stanley attended Bryant & Stratton Business School in Boston, Mass., graduating in 1957. During that period, he lived with and worked for the Robert Mitchell family of Wellesley Hills, Mass. Stanley was very fond of this family and very grateful for the kindness and generosity they showed him.

Following business school, in July of 1957 he began a long career working for the State of Maine. Over the years he advanced through several positions. He started out as a clerk in the State Highway Department. Then he worked as a financial auditor for many years in the Department of Audit. Later he served briefly as the Acting Director of Finance for the Division of Financial Services within the Department of Human Services. Ultimately, he was chosen as the Director of Finance for the State Department of Education and Cultural Services, where he stayed from 1981 to 1996. He finished his career with a short term as the Business Manager for the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in Falmouth before his retirement in 1998.

Stanley also served in the military, enlisting in the Maine Air National Guard in January 1959, and completing his basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey. He attended both the Army Finance School and Maine Military Academy, before becoming a commissioned officer in 1962. He served in many roles during his National Guard service until his retirement in 1997 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During his retirement, Stanley enjoyed both his daily breakfast group meetings at the McDonald’s in Gardiner and his frequent visits with his good friend Martin Cyr at Martin’s barbershop in Farmingdale.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, and his first-born son David Sumner.

He is survived by his wife Lorraine Sumner of Farmingdale; his son Brian Sumner of North Hollywood, Calif.; his sister Dixie Wilson of Gallatin, Tenn.; and his granddaughter Lyndsey Sumner of Windham, Maine.

Stanley’s graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the 8th of October 2024 at the Forest Grove Cemetery, Winthrop Street, Augusta. All family and friends are welcome to attend.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.