David “Worlie” Simmons, age 95 years, a well-known businessman and farmer, a resident of the Porterwood Community, Parsons, WV and more recently a resident of Elkins, departed this life Thursday morning, January 16, 2014 at the Lexington Veterans Administration Medical Center at Lexington, KY., while visiting his daughter.
He was born Friday, July 5, 1918 at Bretz, West Virginia, a son of the late James Perry Simmons and Lizzie Merrit Simmons. On July 20, 1938 at Parsons, WV, he was married to the former Isobel Spessert Simmons, who preceded him in death on August 25, 2012. They had celebrated seventy four years of marriage.
Surviving are two sons, Gary Wayne Simmons and wife Shirley of Bethlehem, PA, David Creig Simmons and wife Can of Moravia, CA; two daughters, Jan Rae Summerfield and husband Roger of Elkins, WV, Esther “Jill” Swart and husband Wayne of Versailles, KY; seven grandchildren, Kimberly, Marla, Sherry, Russell, Christina, Heather and Rob; eighteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and nine step-great grandchildren.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family having been preceded in death by six brothers, infant Claude Simmons, Clyde Simmons, Elwood Simmons, Cecil Simmons and Howard Simmons; five sisters, Ruth Bostic, Pricilla Lee “Patty” Rittmeyer, Elsie F. Simmons and Magdeline Simmons; twin siblings, a brother and a sister; and two grandsons, Gary and Joe Simmons.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1937, and a graduate of Moler Barber College and Moler Beauty College. He was a Veteran of the United States Navy Combat Unit, serving during World War II, in the United State Naval Amphibious Forces from 1944 to 1946. He worked the Civilian Conservation Corp. He was a former employee of the United States Forest Service, the Barber Jew Cross, and Bethlehem Steel at Pittsburgh, Pa. He worked for the F.B.I., in the security department at Baltimore, MD. He moved back to Parsons, WV, and owned and operated Simmons Barber Shop on Second Street for many years. He then along with his wife moved to the corner of Front and Walnut Street, where they owned and operated the Simmons Barber and Beauty Shop. Then in 1984, they moved the business to their home place at Porterwood, where they continued to operate, the Simmons Barber and Beauty Shop and the White Oak Bed and Breakfast. Both Mr. and Mrs. Simmons retired in 2003. He was an avid outdoorsman.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. Final rites were conducted at the funeral home parlor on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Parli officiated and interment followed at the Family Moore Cemetery at Porterwood, WV, where the United States Navy, the H.W. Daniels Post #29 American Legion, the Tygart Valley Post #3647 Veterans of Foreign War and the Tucker County Veterans Association conducted full military honors. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for David “Worlie” Simmons. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.