Edgar L. Cummins' Obituary
Mr. Edgar Lee Cummins of Norton Shores went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 22, 2007 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 89. Edgar was born in Broadhead, Kentucky, the fourth of seven children. His family moved to Detroit following economic difficulties; and his father, who served on the Detroit Police Department, died in 1930. As the burden of maintaining the family fell upon Edgar’s mother in the height of the Great Depression, the children often went door-to-door selling home bake goods to make ends meet. Edgar along with his two older brothers, went to school and worked at Ford Motor Company. He met Viola Ewing in 1938, and the two married a year later. Their first son was born in 1940. Despite being exempt from the draft for his employment at Ford, Edgar voluntarily enlisted in the Army as the U.S. was drawn into World War II. As a machine gunner, he fought fascist forces in Italy until being severely wounded near the city of Bologna. He spent nearly a year recovering at Percy Jones Veterans Hospital in Battle Creek and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his service to his Country. Edgar eventually returned to Ford Motor Company in the purchasing department. Following the birth of his second son, Bill, and daughter, Peggy, He joined his brothers as a co-owner of Solar Machine Products. The highly successful company supplied parts to the auto industry, and Edgar remained there until retiring at age 58. After selling their home in Plymouth, Edgar and his wife would spend the next 30+ years residing in Muskegon and joining the snowbirds in Florida. Edgar and Viola faithfully served many churches throughout their 67 years of marriage. These include Springwells Avenue Baptist Church in Wayne, Calvary Baptist Church in Plymouth, and Calvary Church in Fruitport. In addition to his involvement in building the Evangel Baptist Church in Boca Raton, Florida, Edgar was on the Board of Directors of the Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference for numerous years. Edgar leaves a wonderful spiritual legacy that is carried out through his three children, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. He will be best remembered for his love for the Lord and his generous heart of giving abundantly from his financial resources, which include support to many nieces and nephews in ministry, as well as his church, Maranatha, and other Christian missions. Edgar’s SURVIVORS include his wife, Viola; a daughter, Peggy (Dave) VanAndel of Muskegon; sons, Bill (Dotti) Cummins of Lodi, CA, and Ed Cummins of Pittsburgh, PA; a brother, David (Mary) Cummins of Decatur, AL; a sister, Pauline Rivers of Canton, MI; sisters-in-law, Georgina Cummins of Muskegon and Virginia Cummins of Deland , FL. A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held 1PM Tuesday, November 27. 2007 at Calvary Church (5873 Kendra in Fruitport) with his Pastor, Bill Rudd, officiating. VISITATION will be Monday, 6-8 PM at The Lee Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 6291 S. Harvey St. 231-798-1100. Military Rites will be under the auspices of VFW Muskegon County Council. Interment in Sunrise Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be made to the Calvary Church Building Fund.
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