Edward (Sonny) C. Simms, Jr.

Trinity graduate was U.S. Air Force veteran. Edward C. "Sonny" Simms Jr., 72, of Washington, died at 3:25 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2006, in Washington Hospital, following a five-year illness. He was born July 2, 1934, in Taylorstown, a son of Edward Clarence Simms Sr. and Hazel Jean Westfall Simms. Mr. Simms graduated from Trinity High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Air Force from February 1953 to February 1957, was stationed in Japan and earned the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Simms worked as a millwright at Washington Tool and Machine and in the maintenance department at The Meadows racetrack for 10 years. He was a member of American Legion 907 in Taylorstown and Keystone Coon Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, ice fishing and bow hunting. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing soccer, baseball and softball. On August 18, 1959, he married Marilyn Vaughn Newland, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Vincent Leon Simms of Castle Shannon and Sgt. Jason Douglas Simms of North Dakota, and three sisters, Norma Jean (Francis) Dicks and Betty Lou (William) Larkin, both of Washington, and Theda Mae Svitek of Muse. Deceased are two sisters, Alice Marie Stanley and Jennie Estella Murray, and a brother, Harold A. "Shorty" Simms. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, October 6, with the Rev. Gary Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township. Military rites will be accorded graveside by James R. Hunt Post 639 of American Legion.