1951 - 2026
Dean Orville Summers, 74, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away Saturday morning, July 18, 2026, at Wesley Medical Center.
He was born November 21, 1951, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Dean Orville Bates and Irma Irene Counts. He would later be raised by his mother and step-father Allen Keith Summers. Dean attended schools in Winfield and Wichita, graduating from Wichita South High School in 1969. He attended classes at Wichita State University and served in the United States Navy for a brief time. He worked at Beechcraft, in Wichita, for a number of years.
He married Lisha Chen on January 13, 2006, while in China teaching English as a Foreign Language. The couple lived in China many years before returning to the Wichita area in 2021. Dean enjoyed coaching, and working with, young soccer and baseball players.
He is survived by his wife Lisha Chen of Wichita; Lisha’s son Zhang Peng of China; three sons, David of Bloomington, MN; Carl of Philadelphia, PA; and Ty of Wichita, KS; his sons’ mother Gloria; one grandson; brother Charles and his wife, Marie, of Spokane, WA; and niece and nephews, Cheyenne, Michael, Jon, Zach and Ben.
Dean was preceded in death by his mother Irma Irene Counts Summers Hix, father Dean Orville Bates, step-father Allen Keith Summers, as well as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents.
The family will hold a graveside memorial service at Highland Cemetery. Miles Funeral Service in Winfield is in charge of arrangements.
