Homer O.H. Gumbs - Age 51, of Owosso, died suddenly on Monday, July 28, 2008, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday, August 2, 2008, at the Community Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 951 Riley Road, Owosso with Pastor Don Galardi officiating. Cremation will follow the services with final rest on the island of Antigua. Visitation with the family will be from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. and also 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Friday at Mowen Funeral Home - William A. Scarlett Memorial Chapel; and on Saturday at the church from 10 A.M. to service time.
Mr. Gumbs was a supervisor for Verizon Communications, with his offices in both Owosso and Saint Johns.
Homer was born October 8, 1956, in Montserrat, West Indies, the son of Austin and Ionie ( Saunders ) Gumbs. He married Deborah Vigenski in Owosso on July 29, 1978. Mr. Gumbs played soccer nearly all of his life. He was an All American soccer player in college and played professional soccer for a few years. He was also an assistant coach for the Owosso High School soccer team. Homer was a charter member of the Community Evangelical Presbyterian Church and active in the church men's group. In his free time, he could be found at the relaxing end of a fishing pole.
His loving family includes: wife, Deborah; daughters, Rebekah and Danika; and son, Keegan, all of Owosso; brothers and sisters, Chandler Gumbs, Goffe Gumbs, Myrna Gumbs, Junith Gumbs, Lyndon Gumbs, Ivert Gumbs, Arlyn Gumbs and John Hunt; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the family.
5 comments:
Thanks for your remembrance Homer Gumbs. He was a member of our men's group at church. We, too, knew him as a formidable soccer player and coach as well as a man with a deep faith in the God of the Bible. We all are grieving this loss with his family, but we are rejoicing that his greatest problem in life had already been solved and his greatest benefit in life was and is now eternally...Union with Christ.
Ronald Davis
He will be sorely missed, he was as big as they come on the soccer field, and as intimidating as they come...the SECOND I got to know him better however, I knew that he was a gentle giant...a great man with a great heart...Rest In Peace Homer.
I was fortunate to play beside Homer for his entire Sports Club career. His power and grace was truly amazing to witness. However, his true power was in how he carried himself. I never saw him angry or vindictive when an opponent fouled him. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are for his wife and children. My God take each of them in his loving and merciful arms. Geoff Gale
Homer was a tremendous player and an even greater person. I knew Homer from many facets of the pitch. We not only played together on the Sports Club but I also played against Homer in college, he for John Wesley College and myself for Michigan. There was a year or two when he played for the Owosso team in the CMSL. I also refereed Homer when he played at J. Wesley as well as when he was an assistant at Owosso High School. He was a gentle giant that rarely got rattled. The ONE time he got upset over a call remains a memroable momment in Sports Club history for those who were there. It was like time stopped for us and we all looked at each other and did not question the call but rather, "Homer is upset!?!?" A story that has been recounted annually for years.
Everyone should have the opportunity in life to meet a person of Homer's quality. Fortunately, I was able to go a step further and say he was my friend.
I was sorry to hear this news. I played for Homer's brother, Goffe,when he coached at Flint Powers in the mid eighties. Does anyone know how to get in touch with him?
Thanks
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