(July 30, 1933 ~ November 2, 2018)
Dr. Joe Cummings, 85, of Stephenville passed away Friday, November 2, 2018 in Stephenville.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Stephenville Funeral Home with Gary Williams officiating. Burial will follow at West End Cemetery. The family will host a visitation from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, November 5 at Stephenville Funeral Home.
Joe was born on July 30, 1933 in Olton, Texas to the late Frank Ed and Harriet Harder Cummings. He graduated from high school in Muleshoe, Texas. He then attended, and graduated from, the University of Alabama. There he played football for the Crimson Tide, playing in both the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. After graduating from Alabama, Joe taught and coached at Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada, winning the state title in 1960. He played professional football in Canada and served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Joe received his Master’s Degree from West Texas A & M. He worked as a principal, and later as superintendent, in Anton, Texas from 1964-1969. While at Anton, he worked on his Doctorate of Education degree from Texas Tech University and received it 1970.
In 1970, Joe moved to Stephenville and began teaching at Tarleton State University in the Education Department. He retired after holding the position of Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies for several years. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus and a Distinguished Faculty Member.
During his years in Stephenville, Joe was a member of the Rotary Club and served as president for both the Optimist Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He coached both the Optimist Little League baseball team and the girl’s golf team at TSU. He also helped to start the Stephenville Family Fun Fair. He served as mayor for two terms in the late 1970’s through the early 1980’s. Joe helped create the Tarleton Cooperative Teacher Education Center and the Cross Timbers School Development Council.
Joe is survived by daughters, Georgia Crume and husband David of Lubbock, Jana Catterall and husband Arthur of Arlington, Virginia; sons, Tommy Cummings of Desdemona, David Brown and wife Michele of Stephenville, Steven Brown and wife Sherri of Sandia; four grandchildren, Larson Crume, Griffin Crume, Jennifer Gage and husband Curtis, Jon Brown and wife Jessica; five great grandchildren, Brock, Brena, Brystal, Brazos, and Briar; brother, Logan Cummings and wife Kay; sister, Sharon Cummings; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wives, Marion Frances Lander in 1983, and Patricia Brown Reeves in 2014; and brother, Jack Cummings.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Good Tree Assisted Living for their attentive and loving care.
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