Jerry Glenn Simmons, a resident of Fishkill since 1966 and formerly of Florida, died at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. He was 80 years old.
Son of the late Glenn W. and Violet D. (Gulledge) Simmons, Jerry was born in Miami, FL on October 11, 1933. In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1956.
Jerry worked in the telecommunications industry for many years, having worked for both Southern Bell in Florida and New York Bell. He then went on to work for I.B.M. in East Fishkill for nearly 20 years, retiring as a technician in 1993. Following his retirement, Jerry worked as a lunchroom monitor at Fishkill Elementary School for nine years. He loved being part of the school environment, being with the students who revered him.
For many years, Jerry actively volunteered for Fishkill baseball as a little league and senior league coach. He was a proud, patriotic American Veteran and parishioner of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill. Above all else, he loved his family, and especially cherished time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
On June 2, 1956, he married Jean Colozzi at Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn. Jean survives at home in Fishkill.
Jerry is also survived by his daughter, Linda Johnson & her husband Richard of Hopewell Junction; his son, Glenn Simmons & his wife Jennifer of Hopewell Junction; his daughter, Lisa Simmons of Fishkill; his grandchildren, Matthew Johnson & his wife Melissa, Joseph Johnson & his wife Laura, Kimberly Johnson, Laura Johnson, Tayler Simmons, and Conner Simmons; his great-granddaughters, Emily, Leah, and Grace; his sister, June Anders of Hillsboro, NM; his brother-in-law, Anthony Colozzi & his wife Mary Ann of Huntington, NY; his sister-in-law, Gloria Colozzi of Bayside, Queens; and many nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives & friends.
He was predeceased by parents and his sister, Bonnie Jean Geuss.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 25 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 26 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Entombment will follow in the Community Mausoleum at Fishkill Rural Cemetery, where the U.S. Navy will conduct Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
For directions, online condolences, and memorial donations, please visit Jerry's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.