Howard Simmons' Obituary
Howard J. Simmons age 79, of the Grafton area passed away Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Southwest General Hospital, Middleburg Heights, following a lengthy illness. He was born January 19, 1929 in Woodbury, TN and has been a resident of Eaton Twp. for the past 48 years moving from North Ridgeville where he had resided for 10 years. He retired from General Motors in 1985 after 35 years of employment. He had worked at GM Fisher Guide Plant, Elyria and the Cadillac Tank Plant in Cleveland. Howard was a member of UAW Local 755. He had served as Union President and was the final Union President at the Tank Plant. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, gardening, and beekeeping. He sang with a Gospel group called "The Unknowns". He was a member of the North Eaton Baptist Church where he had served as trustee for many years. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Eileen (nee Baker), sons, Howard David Simmons of Lorain, Russell Jackson Simmons of Louisville, KY, and Douglas Lloyd Simmons of Laporte, OH, daughters, Darlene Wray of NC and Sheila Simmons of Eaton Twp., 17 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter, brothers, Horace of TN and Charles of GA, sisters, Grace Carter of TN and Ordway Gaither of GA. He was preceded in death by a son, Andrew E. Simmons, his parents, Eula and Ethel Simmons, by a sister, Nola Mae Brown, a granddaughter, Joanna Wray and by a great great granddaughter, Megan. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Thursday September 18, 2008 at the David Bogner Family Funeral Home 36625 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville. Funeral Services will be held at 11 A.M. Friday at The North Eaton Baptist Church 12109 S. Reed Rd. Burial will follow at Butternut Ridge Cemetery, North Eaton. Memorial contributions may be made to North Eaton Baptist Church Parking Lot or Library fund.
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