Raden Sumantri Obituary

The world is a poorer place with his passing.
Raden Buntarman (Boone) Sumantri of Cordova, TN passed away on the 5th of October, 2024 at the age of 97 years old. Boone was born on the 26th of August, 1927 on Kalimantan, Indonesia to Raden Sumantri and Kamariah Tjitrohamidjoyo. He was one of eight children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara, brothers Gunawan and Wibisono, and sisters Kusmiati, Kusmartiti, Hartati and Sri Hartinah. He is survived by his sister Sri Musiati of Indonesia, his first wife Kadina (Joe) Palen of Eugene, OR, daughter Dini (Melvin) Malone of Memphis, TN, son Tato (Sheri) Sumantri of Eugene, OR, daughter Tati (Frank Fenlon) Guzman of Aiea, HI, stepchildren Ron (Janice) Cowles of Logansport, IN, Ed (Mary) Cowles of Zanesville, OH, Gary (Sonya) Cowles of Staples, MN, Jeanette (Dave) Huntoon, of Logansport, IN, granddaughter Raydeen (Harold) Cuffe of Wellington, New Zealand, grandson Joshua (Kristin) Sumantri of Central Point, OR, grandson Dominic (Kayla Townsley) Guzman of New York, NY, great-granddaughter Avery Cuffe of Wellington, New Zealand, great-grandson Marcus Cuffe of Wellington, New Zealand, great-grandson Max Sumantri of Central Point, OR, eight step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.
In Indonesia, Boone lived through the Dutch colonial rule of Indonesia and Japanese occupation during WWII. After Japan surrendered, he fought for the independence of Indonesia, serving as a platoon leader in the Signal Corps with the rank of Lieutenant. He went on to study Chemical Engineering at Penn State University, receiving his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1963, writing his thesis on Gas Chromatography. He went to work for PT Stanvac Indonesia at their refinery in Sungai Gerong, Sumatra, Indonesia. During the coup-d'etat of 1965 Boone, fearing for the safety of his family, moved with his family to New York, NY working for Esso Oil Co. A year later, he went to work for his PhD Advisor, moving his family to State College, PA and in 1974 to Gardena, CA.
While living in Gardena, Boone retired from Engineering to devote his life to Christian service. He served in various capacities with churches he was involved with in Gardena before moving to Phoenix, AZ to work for Food for the Hungry International in Tempe, AZ. In 1982 he served on the faculty of Warner Southern College in Lake Wales FL and in 1984 he worked for Mercy Corps International in Portland OR and was on the faculty of Western Seminary in Portland, OR. He retired in 2006, moving to Logansport, IN. Upon the death of his wife, Barbara in 2018, he moved to Cordova, TN to live with his daughter, Dini.
Boone loved the outdoors, enjoying light hikes as well as heavier backpacking trips. He summited California's Mt. Whitney three times and attempted to summit Colorado's Huron Peak. He canoed, bicycled and rode horseback. He holds the Tennessee Senior Olympics record for the 5Km Race Walk for the 90-95 year old age group with a time of 72:04. He was an avid fencer. He loved his roses.
As the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to be more isolated, Boone endeavored to remain connected to people through social media, reaching out to and encouraging people wherever he could. He ended up with a vast social network of friends and acquaintances that spanned the globe.
A Funeral Service celebrating Boone's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, the 17th of October at Fisher Funeral Chapel, 1801 Chase Rd, Logansport, IN with Rev. Jef Allen officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00. He will be interred at Spring Creek Cemetery, Logansport, next to Barbara.
To send flowers to the family of Raden, please visit our floral store.