Retired U.S. Army Major R.B. Simmons was born in Linden, Cass County, Texas, on August 7, 1919 and passed away on Tuesday at the Sundance Inn at the age of 90 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Marie Simmons of Henderson, Texas; one brother, Ed Roy Simmons of Linden, Texas; one sister, Olene Allen of Linden and one son, Robert Jerald Simmons of New Braunfels.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Vanita E. Simmons of New Braunfels. He is also survived by his son, Douglas Simmons and wife Linda Jean and their daughter Amanda of Austin.
He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years. He served in the Guadalcanal campaign during 1942-1943. He later served in Iceland, Germany and Korea. Stateside assignments included Houston High Schools R.O.T.C. Detachment, Houston; HQ. Fourth Army, Ft. Sam Houston; White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico and U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground and Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. After retirement from the U.S. Army, he served an additional 15 years in the U.S. Air force Civil Service with duty in the pentagon, Washington, D.C. and the U. S. Air force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Zoeller Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11 a.m. with full military honors.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made in his name to the New Braunfels Humane Society, 1920 Kuehler Rd. New Braunfels, Texas 78130, 830-625-5287.
