ARTHUR ROGERS SUMMERLIN JR., M.D., 79, died Thursday, July 24, 2003 at his home in Raleigh, NC, following a period of declining health. He was born on March 31, 1924 in Rock Hill, S.C. to the late Arthur Rogers Summerlin and Leithia Oveda Robbins Summerlin. He was reared in Laurinburg, N.C. where he graduated from Laurinburg High School in 1941. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Betty S. Cashwell, and a son, William Mark Summerlin. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Agnes Cochrane Summerlin. Upon graduation from high school and at the age of 16, Art enrolled at the Citadel where he joined the Army Officer’s Reserves. At the start of World War II, the enrollment at the Citadel was nonexistent as most students enlisted in military service while the others transferred to other schools. Art then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he completed undergraduate school and two years of medical school (at that time only a 2 year medical school). He earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia Medical School in 1948. While completing an internship at Duke Hospital in Internal Medicine, he entered the Civilian Army Training Program as a first lieutenant. A residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bowman Gray School of Medicine followed this internship. In July 1950 Art was ordered to active duty as a captain in the Army Medical Corps, serving in Korea and Japan. He was with the 89th Tank Battalion of the 25th Division serving as battalion surgeon and commanding officer treating wounded most of whom were cleared to MASH units. He also served at the 155th Station Hospital in Yokohoma, Japan where he not only worked in the OB/GYN department but also treated wounded from the battlefields of Korea. upon returning home in January 1952, he became the first three-year resident in the newly established Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. In addition to his wife, Agnes, he is survived by two daughters, Susan Summerlin Goodmon and husband, Raymond of Raleigh, and Rosemary Summerlin Perry and husband, Eric of Raleigh; two son, Arthur Rogers Summerlin III, M.D. and wife, Shoanette of Dothan, Alabama, and Stephen Cochrane Summerlin of Great Mills, Maryland; nine grandchildren, Louis Fletcher Goodmon, Leslie Caylin Spear, Harold Arthur Spear, Luke Ashton Perry, Laura Agnes Summerlin, Stephen Lee Summerlin, Arthur R. Summerlin IV, William Matthew Summerlin, Kelly Welsh Summerlin; brother, Jack Donald Summerlin, M.D. and wife, Katherine of Indianapolis, Indiana; and his sister, Bobbie S. Knotts and husband, Clarence Buck of Laurinburg, NC. On Friday, July 25th from 5 o’clock-7 o’clock in the evening the family will receive friends at the Summerlin’s home located at 1800 Stillwater Drive, Raleigh, NC. A memorial service will be held at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, July 26th at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church located at 27 Horne Street. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
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