Donald I. Simmons, 80, Mt. Erie
Donald I. Simmons, 80, of Mt. Erie, passed away at 1:43 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 at Richland Memorial Hospital.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Hosselton Funeral Home in Cisne. Burial with full military rites will be in Travers Cemetery in Mt. Erie. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials: Dr. Scranton Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be offered at www.hosseltonfh.com
Mr. Simmons was born May 28, 1931 at Coffeen, the son of Jess Amos and Frieda Marie (Digman) Simmons. He first married Carolyn Jenkins and had a son, David Allen Simmons. They were later divorced. He married Rosa Joan Atwood on Sept. 11, 1955, at Lawrenceville.
He worked at Champion Lab of Albion for many years as a paint booth operator until he was forced to retire due to bad health. Donald joined the Army, serving his country in Korea and Japan. He attended the Enterprise United Methodist Church, was a charter member of Mt. Erie Ruritan Club and was a former mayor of Mt. Erie, helping to bring street lighting and the water system to the area. He was known as a great fisherman and gardener. He brought loads of watermelons to the people of Mt. Erie every summer.
Donald is lovingly survived by his wife, Joan, of Mt. Erie; one daughter, Vicky Hicks of Fairfield; four sons, David Allen Simmons and his wife Rita) of St. Charles, Mo., Rick Simmons and his wife Cindy of Salem, Jesse Simmons and his wife Cathy of Geff, and Sam Simmons of Olney; 13 grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren; seven great-stepgrandchildren; nine great-grand children; many nieces and nephews; and other loved ones.
Preceding him in death were a son, David Michael; three sisters, Dorothy, Lorene and Lovetta; and his parents.