Elsie Summers passed away on June 23, 2021 in Wooster, Ohio. She was eighty-four years old.
Surviving are her two sons, Brian and Greg, along with three grandchildren.
Elsie was born in Arthur, Illinois. She spent the early part of her childhood growing up in Illinois
before moving with her family to Ohio during the early 1950s.
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1960, Elsie earned a Master of Education
degree from Miami (Ohio) University in 1969. Between earning these college degrees, Elsie met
her future husband, Neel, while they both were working as teachers at Holmesville Elementary in
Holmesville, Ohio.
Thereafter, Elsie transferred to Fredericksburg Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Ohio, where
she spent the remainder of her career working as a reading teacher helping young children learn to
read. In all, Elsie was employed by the Southeast Local School District for forty-two years before
her much deserved retirement at the end of the school year in 2002.
Elsie lived for most of her adult life in a home she and Neel built for their family in the picturesque
hills of Holmes County. In 2005, they were jointly named the Citizens of the Year in Holmesville
before they moved to Wayne County several years later. Elsie and Neel were very happily married
for almost fifty years prior to his death in February 2015.
Elsie devoted the whole of her professional career to the education of elementary aged children, first
as a classroom teacher before transitioning to remedial reading. Elsie cared deeply about her
students, and she especially loved helping them learn. She was held in very high esteem by her
professional colleagues with whom she worked over the years.
In her personal life, Elsie loved and cherished her family, while also enjoying reading and
gardening. During her summer vacations when school was closed, she and Neel would always take
their family on trips, including to one of their favorite destinations of Kelleys Island in Lake Erie.
Elsie had six siblings: three brothers and three sisters. Two have predeceased her, while four
siblings survive her.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt expression of gratitude to the staff of West View Healthy
Living and Ohio's Hospice LifeCare in Wooster, Ohio for their wonderful care.
There will be no public services and a private interment will take place at the convenience of the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that anyone wishing to do so may make a memorial
donation in Elsie’s memory to The Wilderness Center 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot, OH 44689.
Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is honored with serving the family.
Condolences may be shared privately or publicly with the family at: www.custerglenn.com