William Robert “Bob” Simmons, age 81, of Plano, Texas, passed away December 30, 2014. Bob was born April 3, 1933 in Dell, Arkansas to Virgil Sam and Rettie Lee (McDaniel) Simmons. He married Betty Jean Stallings on February 1, 1952 in Lapanto, Arkansas. Bob grew up in Dell, Arkansas and graduated from Dell High School in 1951, where he was captain of the basketball team, a member of the track team and selected for Boys State. Bob moved to Texas in 1962. He owned and operated Harrington Furniture for 22 years. Bob had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was a member of the Plano Lions Club and elected as Tail Twister. Bob was also a member of First Baptist Church in Plano since 1969.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Simmons of Plano, Texas; children, Bobby Simmons, Jr. and wife Kathy, Terry Spears and husband Jerry and Tammy Simmons all of Sachse, Texas; grandchildren, Michael Simmons, Clay Simmons, Shane Spears and Taylor Hurmence; great-grandchildren, Jordan Simmons, Jared Simmons, Justin Simmons, Cody Simmons, Ariana Rodriguez and Carson Carmen; brothers and sisters, Marguerite Brownlee of Dell, Arkansas, Jimmy Simmons of Daytona Beach, Florida, Donna DiCicco of Dell, Arkansas and Richard Simmons of Benton, Arkansas.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Rettie Simmons; sister, Jeanette Fowler; and daughter-in-law, Janet Simmons.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2015 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during a visitation being held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219 or http://www.tsrhc.org/.