Dr. Joe Frank Cummings
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.
Joe served as mayor of Stephenville for two terms in the late 1970's through the early 1980's. He served as president of the Optimist Club and the Chamber of Commerce, and he was a member of the Rotary Club. Joe coached both the Optimist Little League baseball team and the girl's golf team at TSU. He was instrumental in starting the Stephenville Family Fun Fair. 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, Marian Frances Lander in 1983, and Patricia Reeves Brown in 2014; and brother, Jack Cummings.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Good Tree Assisted Living for their attentive and loving care.
The family wishes donations be made to Cummings Scholarship at TSU.
Checks should be made out to: Tarleton State University. On the Memo line, please write "Cummings Scholarship." Checks should be mailed to:
Tarleton State University--Advancement Services
ATTN: Pam Carpenter (Cummings scholarship)
Box T-0260
Stephenville, TX 76402
Visitation Details
Monday, November 5th, 2018 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Stephenville Funeral Home
Service Information
Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 11:00am, Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel
Interment Details
West End Cemetery