SR0649 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0649 LRB096 21271 KXB 37183 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charles William Eugene Simmons of East Alton, who passed away on February 12, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born November 17, 1923, in Carryville, Arkansas, the son of William and Nellie (Smith) Simmons; Charles had three older brothers, three older sisters, three younger brothers, one younger sister and a twin sister; and

WHEREAS, He served in the United States Army during World War II; after the war he worked at Laclede Steel in Alton and was also a self-employed homebuilder; he married the former Vonda McGee on February 6, 1946, in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his four brothers, Richard, Lucas, Louie, and Luther; and his three sisters, Lena Atchison, Mahala James, and Orangie Todd; and

WHEREAS, Charles Simmons is survived by his wife, Vonda; his four daughters and two sons; Lavon Rea, William Simmons and his wife, Carolyn, Sandra Neal, Sherry Simmons, M.D., Valerie Payne and her husband, the Reverend Gary Payne, and John Simmons and his wife, Jayne; his 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; his two brothers, Bill Simmons and his wife, Lettie, and David Simmons and his wife, Shirley; and his two sisters, his twin, Charlene Sitzes, and Ruth Dowd and her husband, James "Jim" Dowd; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Charles Simmons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Charles Simmons as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.