# David Simmons Memorial Service **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771 "2008-04-25T00:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tim\_Shea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f1d935/32.png) [@Tim\_Shea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_Shea)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/1 "2008-04-25T00:48:05Z")
David’s daughter asked me to post this here. All are welcome. David Simmons, 85, died peacefully on April 19, 2008 at his home in Ridgecrest, California. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Wilma Simmons, his son William Simmons of San Bernadino, CA, and his daughter, Anne Arroyo, of Elk Grove, CA. He is also survived by his 2 grandsons, Casey Simmons of Reno, NV and Ian Hamilton. He was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Cherokee, Iowa. After graduating from Cherokee High School, he enlisted in the Army as an Aviation Cadet. He completed Army Basic Training and then went on to flight training, earning his Pilot’s Wings in December, 1943. He completed his Advanced Multi-engine Pilot Training at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. Following this accomplishment, he returned to Cherokee, Iowa and married Wilma Pierce. After their marriage, David and Wilma moved to Merced, California where David was initially assigned to be a Flight Instructor. However, shortly thereafter, he was deployed overseas and sailed to Europe on the ship, Il de France. He reported for duty as a B-26 pilot with the 344th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force Division. He arrived just in time for the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. He was initially stationed at Cormeilles-en-Vexin and then was transferred to Florennes, Belgium where he was stationed until VE Day, flying combat bombing missions over Germany. In July, 1945, he was sent to Schleissheim, Germany, north of Munich, and served there for a year as a pilot in the Army of Occupation. David was honoribly discharged from active duty in the summer of 1946. Under the GI Bill, David attended the University of Iowa earning his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. He was a member of 2 engineering honors fraternities, Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. After graduation, David and Wilma Simmons moved to China Lake, California, to the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) where he began work as a GS-5 Electrical Engineer. During his 31 year career at China Lake, he attended UCLA to obtain an advanced degree, served as a Branch Chief, and as Head of the Telemetry Division. He was responsible for the design, operation, and maintenance of aircraft range instrumentation and did aircraft instrumentation installations for weapons tests. He was also responsible for the procurement, operation and maintenance of the telemetry units used in the development of the AIM9C Sidewinder. He designed ground recording equipment that digitized telemetry data onto film for later analysis. He played a key role in the decisions leading to the second-source production for the Sparrow Missile as well. David enjoyed working as a carpenter and set builder for China Lake’s “Backyard Players” where he was involved with 10 of the stage productions under the leadership of Steve and Colleen Lee. He spent many hours composing “Letters to the Editor” of both the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Independent. He also enjoyed fishing, playing golf and spent 2 years of his retirement working as a consultant for COMARCO. He was also very active in several internet discussions groups, and was recently acknowledged by his peers as one of their most articulate, persuasive and intelligent contributors. David was preceded in death by his parents and older sister, Eleanor. Memorial service will be held on May 17, 2008 at 11:00 am in the Holland and Lyons Chapel in Ridgecrest, CA. A reception is planned for 1:00 pm at the Santiago Ridgecrest Estates’ Club House. Regards, Tim Shea ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/2 "2008-04-25T01:36:36Z")
A great tribute and what a life! Amazing accomplishments. You’re so fortunate to have known him so well. Thank you, and please thank Anne, for posting this. I’m sure the turnout will be tremendous to honor to your uncle. He will be missed by so many people. My sympathies to you and your family and hope that \*\*David \*\* has found a lasting peace. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/3 "2008-04-25T01:38:02Z")
Thank you for sharing this. I only knew **David** through this board, and never interacted much with him directly, but he was one of the most interesting, articulate, and intelligent posters we’ve had here. He’ll be greatly missed. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/4 "2008-04-25T01:54:53Z")
Beautiful. Thank you for posting this. Just beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/5 "2008-04-25T02:33:12Z")
Thanks for posting, Tim. We really appreciate it. A good man. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/6 "2008-04-25T08:40:48Z")
Thank you, **Tim**. I can’t attend the memorial (there’s an ocean and a continent, or two continents and an ocean, between here and there), but I will remember your uncle fondly. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/7 "2008-04-25T10:08:40Z")
I am with Nava- oceans away. But his online friends will be there in spirit. Please keep me a seat. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/8 "2008-04-25T14:56:21Z")
With a life like that, no wonder he was such a great contributor here. Thanks for sharing this with us. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/9 "2008-04-25T14:57:16Z")
[QUOTE=Cicero] I am with Nava- oceans away. But his online friends will be there in spirit. Please keep me a seat. [/QUOTE] I’ve moved away from L.A., but I’ll be there in spirit as well. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/10 "2008-04-25T16:32:25Z")
[QUOTE=Cicero] I am with Nava- oceans away. But his online friends will be there in spirit. Please keep me a seat. [/QUOTE] Webcast! 🙂 OK, kidding. But it’s great that “internet discussions groups” were mentioned in the obituary; it’s an honor for the SDMB to have been part of **David Simmons** ’ life. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/11 "2008-04-25T16:59:34Z")
I’ll have a moment of silence at 2pm (Orlando(ish) time) on May 17. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/12 "2008-04-25T17:54:43Z")
A life well spent, generously shared and touching many. A wonderful legacy indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/13 "2008-04-25T18:13:22Z")
I don’t know if you’re planning to have any kind of Guest Book or Memory Book-type thing at the service, **Tim** , but maybe you’d want to print out the threads about your uncle’s illness and his passing. People might like to see (and be surprised!) about the impact he had on so many people through this board. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/14 "2008-04-25T19:38:59Z")
Thanks for the update. Mr. Simmons is missed very much. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/15 "2008-04-26T01:23:44Z")
That’s a beautiful obit. If I lived out there I’d definitely go. I will in spirit at least. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/16 "2008-04-26T01:40:11Z")
Do not despair For Johnny-head-in-air; He sleeps as sound As Johnny underground. Fetch out no shroud For Johnny-in-the-cloud; And keep your tears For him in after years. Better by far For Johnny-the-bright-star, To keep your head, And see his children fed. [John Pudney, _For Johnny_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pudney) Rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/17 "2008-04-26T17:28:36Z")
I’d also like to thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/18 "2008-04-27T20:51:44Z")
High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941 ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/19 "2008-05-01T01:11:14Z")
They were, indeed, the Greatest Generation. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771/20 "2008-05-06T00:11:45Z")
I’m truly sorry to hear of the passing away of Mr Simmons, whom I appreciated a lot. I thank you for informing us and posting this obituary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-simmons-memorial-service/446771.md?page=2)