Funeral services for Eugene “Gene” F. Simmons, Jr., 80, of Lexington, SC, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 23, 2012 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, West Columbia Chapel with interment in Southland Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Simmons was born February 9, 1932 in Swansea, SC and passed away on Friday, December 21, 2012. He was the son of the late Eugene F. and Ruby B. Simmons. He was a 1954 graduate of the Citadel, a former Army Ranger and Company Commander in the 101st Airborne Division and a retired Lt. Colonel, United States Army. Simmons served as the first Civil Defense Director of Lexington County and was an early advocate for the construction of two Lexington County Hospitals and for countywide fire and ambulance services. During his term he obtained a complete Package Disaster Hospital for the county’s use in emergencies and set up emergency self-help training for over 800 county volunteers. In later years Mr. Simmons represented the military division of United of Omaha and several other insurance companies serving area military personnel. He attended Gantt Street Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Sandra L. Simmons; her daughter, Cynthia Clark and her sons Duane and Dale Larrabee. Mr. Simmons’ sons are Brette (Rene’), Victor and Kevin Simmons. The couple has three granddaughters and three grandsons. Mr. Simmons is also survived by one sister, Sue (Henry) S. Stanford of Inman, SC. Mr. Simmons was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey Patton Simmons and one sister, Barbara S. Lucas. Memorials may be made to Gantt Street Baptist Church, 2121 Gantt Street, Cayce, SC 29033. Tags: 1954
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