Obituary of Walter Robert Sommers

Walter Robert Sommers October 11, 1927 to March 26, 2016 Walter Robert Sommers, 88, a resident of Sterling, VA and previously of Vienna, VA, died on March 26, 2016, from complications during a lengthy recovery from a surgery. Walter Sommers spent his early years in Zanesville, Ohio, growing up in a family of eight children, the third child of Lillian and Clarence Sommers. He left Zanesville upon his enlistment into the US Navy in 1945 serving until his retirement in 1966 at the rate of Senior Chief, YNCS. Walt was a true Shellback and during his enlistment served upon the USS Auburn (AGC-10), USS Gearing (DD-710), USS Dashiell (DD-659), USS Norton Sound (AV-11), USS R. A. Owens (DDE-827), USS Albemarle (AV-5), and the Cruiser USS Boston (CG1). After his retirement from active duty he took a position at the Navy Bureau of Personnel where he served as a civilian supervisor until his retirement from government service. Walt met his wife of 63 years, Darlene A. Hughes, at a square dance in Columbus, OH, and they were married on October 13, 1950. They enjoyed dancing together throughout their marriage and were active members of several dance clubs. When they and their four children moved from Norfolk, VA, to Vienna in 1960, they joined the Vienna Presbyterian Church; Walt and Darlene both enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching children's Sunday School. When the couple retired and moved to Sterling, they joined Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon. Darlene passed on February 18, 2013. Walt had a quick wit and sense of humor about many things in life, was a voracious consumer of the newspaper and TV reporting and could "MacGyver" almost anything into operating again. He leaves behind his four children, Sue Jelinski, David Sommers, Robert Sommers and Sandy Baumler; Five Grandchildren and three Great Grandchildren; his sister Elizabeth Ruth Kessler, Nancy Lou Rarick and brother Robert Lee Sommers. He was predeceased by his siblings Dorothy Marguerite Decker, Charles Sommers, Conrad Henry Sommers, Mary Ann Gill. The family will receive Friends at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, VA on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 6-8 PM. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, VA, on March 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM with interment following at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon.