William
William “Bill” Simmerman
William (Bill) Simmerman, 80, of Thaxton, Virginia, died on May 28, 2010, in Bedford Memorial Hospital, Bedford, Virginia.
Bill was the youngest of five children of Thomas Edward and Miriam Robinson Simmerman. He was born in Wytheville, Virginia, on December 12, 1929. He grew up on the family farm in Max Meadows (Wythe County) and graduated from Max Meadows High School in 1947. He then attended Lees-McRae Junior College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, finishing there in1949. He next attended Emory and Henry College and East Tennessee State University. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 through 1954, and then completed his B.S. degree at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1955. He married Sylvia Simpkins in Chilhowie, Virginia, on July 17, 1954.
\"Simmie\" was a dedicated employee of the General Electric Company in Salem from 1956-1989. He held the position of product engineering manager for various product lines, for many years. His retirement from GE allowed him to be the full-time farmer he wished to be, on his farm in Bedford County. Having earned his Eagle Scout rank as a teenager, he was an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts and served as Scoutmaster of troops in Roanoke, and then Thaxton, for many years. He received the Silver Beaver award in 1972, for his years of dedication to the Boy Scouts.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Nancy Weaver, brother Tom Simmerman, and granddaughter, Amanda Bostic. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sylvia Simmerman, his brother John Simmerman of Christiansburg, his brother Graham Simmerman of Radford, daughter Elizabeth Wessel and son-in-law Walt Wessel of Leesburg, Virginia, and daughter Ellen Ballard of Greenville, South Carolina. Bill is also survived by four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several cousins, nieces and nephews, and many special friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Epworth United Methodist Church, 1145 Penicks Mill Road, Thaxton, Virginia, 24174.
A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, June 19, at 3:00 PM at Epworth United Methodist Church in Thaxton, with the Rev. Joe Shoop officiating. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, (540)-586-3443.
Bill was the youngest of five children of Thomas Edward and Miriam Robinson Simmerman. He was born in Wytheville, Virginia, on December 12, 1929. He grew up on the family farm in Max Meadows (Wythe County) and graduated from Max Meadows High School in 1947. He then attended Lees-McRae Junior College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, finishing there in1949. He next attended Emory and Henry College and East Tennessee State University. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 through 1954, and then completed his B.S. degree at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1955. He married Sylvia Simpkins in Chilhowie, Virginia, on July 17, 1954.
\"Simmie\" was a dedicated employee of the General Electric Company in Salem from 1956-1989. He held the position of product engineering manager for various product lines, for many years. His retirement from GE allowed him to be the full-time farmer he wished to be, on his farm in Bedford County. Having earned his Eagle Scout rank as a teenager, he was an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts and served as Scoutmaster of troops in Roanoke, and then Thaxton, for many years. He received the Silver Beaver award in 1972, for his years of dedication to the Boy Scouts.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Nancy Weaver, brother Tom Simmerman, and granddaughter, Amanda Bostic. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sylvia Simmerman, his brother John Simmerman of Christiansburg, his brother Graham Simmerman of Radford, daughter Elizabeth Wessel and son-in-law Walt Wessel of Leesburg, Virginia, and daughter Ellen Ballard of Greenville, South Carolina. Bill is also survived by four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several cousins, nieces and nephews, and many special friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Epworth United Methodist Church, 1145 Penicks Mill Road, Thaxton, Virginia, 24174.
A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, June 19, at 3:00 PM at Epworth United Methodist Church in Thaxton, with the Rev. Joe Shoop officiating. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, (540)-586-3443.
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