Robert Simmons

Robert Binkley "Bob" Simmons went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 25, 2011 at the age of 89 years young. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 27, 2011 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6-8 PM, Friday at the funeral home. Bob was born February 27, 1922 in Johnsonville, Tennessee to Kelly Binkley and Mary Elizabeth Arney Simmons. He, along with his parents and two brothers, came to Texas in 1925 in a covered wagon. They settled near Sherman, Texas (Whitewright), where he grew up and attended school. Bob joined the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942. He was stationed at Perrin Field near Sherman. He was later transferred to Independence, Kansas where he met and married Hazel Bacon on August 4, 1943. Their love and devotion for each other has resulted in a marriage that has lasted for 68 years. While a Staff Sergeant in the Air Corp, he flew the hump over Burma during WWII. He was tempted to remain in the army but opted to start a family with his wife. Although he had many job experiences, he worked for Borden Milk Company for 41 years as Chief Engineer and Plastic Plant Manager. Bob and Hazel moved to Mexia, after retiring from Borden in 1993, to be near one of his children and live in a small town. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mexia and a volunteer at the Christian Life Center for 11 years, working three days a week. He was known as a strong, kind Christian with old fashion values. Bob offered lots of words of encouragement, wisdom and love for all. He loved people and loved to socialize. He was loved by most everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Carey Simmons; and all seven siblings. Bob leaves behind his wife, Hazel; three of his four children, Binkley Simmons and wife, Dianne, David Simmons and wife, Donna and Carol Caldwell and husband, Joe; one daughter-in-law, Dorcas Simmons; five grandchildren, Scott Simmons, Chris Henson, Denna Shives, Darius Coleman and Dawn Dickinson; and six great-grandchildren, Branndon Norwood, Zachery and Amanda Simmons, Deanna and Seth Shives and Dylan Dickinson.