Luther Kale Simmons

Luther Kale Simmons, 94, of Hardin, traded in his Navy wings for his Angel wings on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, after battling two strokes and a heart attack over the last several months. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 13, 2014, at the Ryan Cemetery in Tarkington Prairie. Services are under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. He is preceded in death by his parents, David W. & Carrie Simmons; his wife, Marie Simmons; his sons Dennis E. Simmons and David L. Simmons; his brothers & their wives Roy & Delia Simmons and T.B. & Bertha Simmons and one sister & her husband Vinie & Carson Tanner. He is survived by his grandchildren: Lance Simmons, Johnny Simmons, Ronnie Simmons & Brandi Simmons, great grandchildren: Lantz Simmons and Mackenzie Till, daughter-in-law and her husband: Denice & Alan Young, special friends: Fritz & Chris Wulff and their children and grandchildren, Chuck Snyder, Bobby Baker, Boyd & Denise Parrish and their children and grandchildren, Joe and Cassie Balch, the Laird family and the Goings family. Luther is a veteran of World War II, where he earned his Wings, several Stars, Ribbons & Medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross & Air Medal. He served aboard the USS Lexington from 1942-1945 for the US Navy as a Radio Man and Gunner. He met his sweetheart, Marie, at a dance; who happened to work at Douglas AFB as a Rosie the Riveter. They were married 3 months after he was Honorably Discharged. He went on to work in the Research Department of Humble Oil & Refining Co. and retired after 32 years. After his retirement he and his sweetheart started traveling with their RV and worked at several Good Sam Club Parks such as Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas & Mississippi. Pastimes were rodeo, baseball, fishing, traveling & camping. He loved his ice cream soup and wearing his Blue or Tan Dickie overalls and ball caps. He grew up in Tarkington Prairie, TX; but settled in areas such as Houston, Baytown, Highlands, Liberty, Hardin, Onalaska, Livingston, and Nacogdoches. Everywhere he lived he grew and tended to a garden, was quite a carpenter and could make a great pot of coffee that was always on for friends and family. Not only did he share the coffee, but he shared many a fresh vegetable from his garden, his sense of humor and picking. He had so many friends along the way and always would say “You have to be a Friend to have Friends” Many thanks to his caregivers Patti, Glenda, Linda, Dustin and Brooke and also the staff & nurses at Magnolia Place Health Care.