Keating Lewis Simons, Jr., Lt. Col., USAR (Ret.), of Wadmalaw Island, husband of Julianne Howard Bell Simons formerly of Gainesville, GA, died at home on March 28, 2018. He was born January 22, 1928, in Columbia, SC, the son of Keating Lewis Simons and Annie Keitt Walker Simons. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Charleston.
Keating graduated from Porter Military Academy in 1944 and received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Citadel in 1948. He was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army in December 1947 at the age of 19. He served a twenty-one month tour of duty at Fort Jackson, SC, as Basic Training Instructor. He was recalled in 1950 during the Korean War and served two years on Okinawa at Post Engineer RYCOM. It was during this tour that his fiancée Julianne traveled from Georgia and sailed from San Francisco to join him, and they were married October 4, 1952.
From 1953 through 1975, he served various US Army Reserve Transportation Units in Charleston.
Keating’s professional career began with engineering then transitioned to sales and management until 1975 when he realized his true calling was with residential real estate. His passion for the surrounding creeks and marshes of the Lowcountry led him to specialize in deep water properties. He was associated most recently with Agent-Owned Realty Co.
While his career kept him busy, he found time to enjoy golf and many saltwater activities, especially sailing, fishing, and shrimping. He also took great pleasure in gardening, became a Master Gardener and volunteered with the Clemson Extension. Keating was a member of Saint George’s Society of Charleston, Society of Colonial Wars, St. Cecelia Society, Charleston Ancient Artillery Society, the Huguenot Society, S.C. Agricultural Society, and the Carolina Yacht Club.
Keating is survived by his wife of 65 years and their children: Keating Lewis Simons, III, and his wife Jule; Evelyn Simons de Mailly and her husband Robert of Columbia; Julianne Simons Hurst and her husband Bobby of Columbia; grandchildren: Keating Lewis Simons, IV, and his wife Rebecca; Benjamin Frost Simons; John Simons de Mailly; Emma Howard Hurst; Allyson Simons Hurst; great-grandchild, Willow MacKenzie Simons; and his sister Jeanne Frost Simons Pitcher of Mt. Pleasant.
The family would like to thank Keating’s caregivers Theresa Brown, Lakecia Hollington and Carolyn Kizer for their devoted kindness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pompion Hill Chapel Foundation, 724 Royall Ave., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
Posted in: James McAlister Funeral Home
Posted on: 2018-04-02
Link to original obituary: https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/?action=obituaries.obit_view&CFID=161cf025-6a4e-4cff-84c1-4a80a96aa081&CFTOKEN=0&o_id=4732897&fh_id=15235