KEITH SOMMER

He was born January 2, 1941, in Martins Ferry, the son of the late Karl W. Sommer, Sr. and Carrie L. (McDermott) Sommer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Carolyn Ann (Rauch) Sommer and his brother, Karl W. Sommer, Jr. and his wife, Shirley.

Surviving are his children: Christine (Jeff) Sommer Furbee, of Grandview Heights, Ohio, Michele (Jonathan Turk) Sommer of Ridgefield, CT, and Julie Sommer of Seattle, Washington; his grandchildren: Jackson Sommer Furbee, Calvin Sommer Furbee, Carrie Sommer Furbee, and Henry Sommer Turk; his sister, Cheryl Scheehle and her husband Bob of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and sister-in-law, Nancy Sommer of Lakeland, Florida. He is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews and remembered by his good friend, Melissa Herr.

Keith was a graduate of Martins Ferry High School Class of 1959, Bowling Green State University Class of 1963, and The Ohio State University College of Law Class of 1966. While a student at B.G.S.U., he was a member of the football and wrestling teams and President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was admitted to practice law before the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. He was an Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Columbus before returning to Martins Ferry, where he practiced law from 1968 until 2020. He took great pride in serving his clients for over 50 years. He was most proud of his appointment and service to the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline from 2009 to 2017.

Keith was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Martins Ferry and recently became a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Upper Arlington, OH. He was a Past-President of the Belmont County Bar Association, member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Belmont County Community Improvement Corporation, and the Estate Planning Council of the Upper Ohio Valley. He was also a Past-President of the Martins Ferry Library Board, Past-President of the East Ohio Regional Hospital Board, Past-President of the Ohio Valley Hospital Board, a decades long member of the Belmont County Library Board, and a member of the Board of Directors of Mt. de Chantal Visitation Academy. He was a member of the Martins Ferry Booster Club, Martins Ferry Wrestling Booster Club, Martins Ferry Elks Club, Lion’s Club, the St. Clairsville Sunrise Rotary, Martins Ferry Yacht Club, and a dedicated parent volunteer for the Martins Ferry Swim Team for many years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Austin C. Furbee Award by the Eastern Ohio Alumni Chapter of Ohio University in recognition for his dedication and contribution to Ohio University Eastern, where he served as a member of the Regional Coordinating Council, advocate, fundraiser, and as an adjunct instructor.

Keith was named to the Martins Ferry Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame, the Bowling Green Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1959 national small college championship B.G. football team, and in 2024 was named to the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

Family and friends will be received at Wilson Funeral Home, 415 Walnut St., Martins Ferry, Ohio, on January 31 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 400 Walnut St., with Rev. Thomas N. Thomas officiating. Burial follows in Riverview Cemetery, Martins Ferry.

In his final days, Keith repeatedly expressed gratitude for the wonderful life he had enjoyed. He had many wonderful lifelong friends and extended family members with whom he delighted in keeping in touch.

In lieu of flowers or other memorial gifts, the family requests memorial contributions be made to a Go Fund Me account at gofund.me/19c4e93d that will be used to establish The Keith & Carol Sommer Scholarship fund for students of Martins Ferry High School, B.G.S.U., and O.S.U.