Rowena Ruffner Arnold Summerville

Mrs. Rowena Ruffner Arnold Summerville, 97, of Blytheville, passed from this life Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Born in Hoxie to Roy and Maude Ruffner Arnold, she was a member of the Retired Teacher's Association and First United Methodist Church of Blytheville. She was also a member of the Blytheville Women's Club and Pathfinder Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Summerville taught elementary school for over thirty years at schools in Alicia, Fisher, Imboden, Hope, Little Rock and Blytheville During WWII, Mrs. Summerville served as the first secretary and head of civilian payroll for the chief lumber expeditor, as well as the commanding officer at the pilot training school in Walnut Ridge.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Royston "Bill" Summerville; and a sister, Eloise Arnold Owens.

She leaves her son, William Douglas "Doug" Summerville and wife, Martha Davis Summerville, of Kingwood, Texas;

A sister, Marguerite Arnold Collier of Huntington Beach, Calif.;

Two grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Summerville and Lindsey Rogers Summerville and his wife, Tracy Kegel Summerville;

A great-grand-daughter, Anna Elizabeth Summerville, all of Houston, Texas;

As well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Strangers Home Cemetery in Alicia at 4 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Cobb Funeral Home.

An online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com