Carlis Howard Simmons, retired U.S. Navy, 81, of Lewisburg, WV, went home to his Lord on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte, WV, after a long battle with cancer.
He was born September 18, 1932 in Lowell, Summers County, WV, and was the son of the late Howard Carl and Margaret Luvena Cooke Simmons.
Mr. Simmons was a member and deacon of the Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Ronceverte. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served honorably for 23 years in aircraft maintenance aboard ships. Upon retiring, he moved back to his beloved West Virginia and worked with Griffith Bryant Ford and the county water department before going to work for 17-1/2 years as a security officer with The Greenbrier hotel.
Carlis enjoyed many pastimes, such as golf, refinishing old furniture, working in the yard, helping anybody who needed it, and spending time with his family. He never met a person he didn’t like.
His legacy, memory, and spirit will be missed by all who knew him and especially those who loved him and are blessed by being a part of his family.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lisa Carol Simmons.
Carlis is survived by his wife of 53 years, Caroline Simmons; a daughter, Traci Myers (Robert); grandson, Levi Myers; brother, Willis Simmons (Jeanee) of Norfolk, VA; sisters, Clara Bennett of Covington, VA, and Margaret Ann Neville and Rose Hilton, both of White Sulphur Springs, WV; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, May 25, 2014, at 7 PM at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg with Elder Norvel Mann officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 5-7 PM at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the May 23, 2014 edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
