Thomas William Simmonds, of Wilmington, died July 7, 2014, at the age of 85.
Mr. Simmonds worked for New York Telephone/AT&T for 30 years in New York State and lived in the Town of Cortland, N.Y. before retiring to Wilmington. Most of his youth was spent in Brooklyn, N.Y. and he graduated from Peekskill High School in Peekskill, N.Y.
He proudly served his country in the U.S Air Force during the Korean War. He loved completing home improvement projects, working on his family’s homestead, music and the New York Football Giants.
He was born May 6, 1929, in Morris Plains, N.J., son of the late Harold and Evelyn Simmonds. His brother, Richard “Dick” Simmonds and sister, Helene “Holly” Simmonds Peterson, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anna “Ann” Franchi Simmonds; children, Linda Simmonds Underwood and husband, William “Bill”, of Hampstead, Thomas Richard Simmonds and wife, Kimberly, of Oswego, N.Y., James Robert Simmonds and wife, Cindy, of Cumming, Ga. and Cheryl Simmonds Yetman and husband, Thomas, of Middletown, N.J.; grandchildren, William “Bill” Thomas Underwood, Matthew Von Underwood, Thomas Trey Simmonds, Jameson Carl Simmonds, Tyler James Simmonds, Thomas Patrick Yetman, Lauren Nicole Yetman, Ryan Michael Yetman and Amanda Michelle Yetman; step-grandchildren, Suzanne Underwood Price, Julie D. Underwood and Jennifer A. Underwood; and step;great-grandchildren, Victoria “Queenie” Price and Alesan Price.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Andrews Hampstead Chapel. Interment will follow at Sea Lawn Memorial Park.
The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of Longleaf Nursing Home for their caring treatment of Mr. Simmonds.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory can be made online or by mail to the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC Chapter, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 208, Raleigh, NC 27605-1351.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Andrews Mortuary.
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