Fred Milton Simmons, age 82 years, a resident of Hambleton, WV, departed this life Friday, June 27, 2014 at Cortland Acres, Thomas, WV. He had been in declining health for the past six months.
He was born Tuesday, January 19, 1932 at Parsons, WV, a son of the late Albert Lawrence “Sie” and Verna Ellen Delaney Simmons. On May 9, 1956 at Oakland, MD, he was married to the former Rosella Pearle Blosser, who preceded him in death, September 16, 2009. They had celebrated fifty three years of marriage.
Surviving are one daughter, Connie Lou “Bootsie” Morris and husband Todd of Parsons; one son, Roy Earl “Jim” Oldaker and wife Rita of Louisa, VA; one stepdaughter, Sandra “Sue” Bilby and husband Mike; two brothers-in-law, Billy Blosser of Weston and Carl Hull of French Creek, three sisters-in-law, Shirley Blosser of Parsons, Bonnie Shingleton of Michigan and Georgia McDaniels of Grafton; eleven grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
He is the last surviving member of his immediate family having been preceded in death by one stepson, Robert Lee Oldaker; five brothers, Harry Simmons, Hugh “Dutch” Simmons, Forrest Simmons, Ross Simmons and Rodney Simmons and four sisters, Mary Edna Sturms, Wanda Jean Ellis, Erma Hedrick and Ella Sue Sponaugle.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the Class of 1949. He was a Proud Veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a Military Policeman, during the Korean Conflict. He was a former employee of Kingsford Charcoal Company for thirty two years, retiring as shipping supervisor. He was a member of the Hambleton United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Wellness Center of Parsons, the WV. Farm Bureau, Parsons High School Alumni Assoc., of which he was inducted into the Parsons High School Hall of Fame, the Fraternal Order of Oddfellows Post #103 of Davis, the Tucker County Veterans Assoc., the V.F.W. Post #410 of Belington, the Pythagoras Lodge #128 A.F. & A.M. of Parsons, The Parsons Chapter #91 Order of the Eastern Star, the Scottish Rite of Clarksburg, the Osiris Temple of Wheeling, the International Shriner’s of Wheeling and the Shriner’s Clowns. He was also a member of the Tygart Valley Shrine Club. Fred enjoyed hunting, working in his workshop, spending time with his fellow Veterans and he loved to dress up in his clown and Santa suite for the children.
The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m.. On Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m., the Parsons Chapter #91 O.E.S. conducted ritualistic services. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home parlor on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.. Pastor Sue Metzner will officiate and interment will follow at the Mt. State Memorial Gardens at Gilman, where the H.W. Daniels Post #29 American Legion, the Tygart Valley Post #3647 Veteran of Foreign War and the Tucker Co. Veterans Assoc. will conduct full military honors and the Pythagoras Lodge #128 A.F. & A.M. of Parsons will conduct Masonic graveside rites. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Fred Milton Simmons. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.
