Richard Elliott"Dickie"Dunham

Joseph Sternberger Simmons died peacefully at his home in Baton Rouge on Wednesday morning, July 9, 2008, following a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 7, 1922, to Carrie Sternberger and Seymour Simmons Sr., in Greenville, Miss. He arrived in Baton Rouge in 1939 to attend LSU and graduated in 1945 with a bachelor's degree in commerce after having served in World War II as a second lieutenant in the 78th Infantry Division. Following a brief stay in New York, he returned to Baton Rouge to make it his permanent home in 1947 and soon thereafter married Betty Jean Moyse. He was the father of three children, Becky Lynn Simmons, mother of Lewis Prentiss Cutshaw and his wife, the former Rachel Curry; Jean Moyse Simmons and her husband, William Adam Wilcox; and Joseph Gottleib Simmons and his wife, Patricia Ann Day and children, Annie Duvic Walley and her husband, Douglas Walley, Daniel Byrd Duvic and his wife, the former Patricia Kleinpeter, and Thomas Patrick Duvic. Joe was blessed with three fine great-grandsons, William Joseph Cutshaw, Miles Davis Walley and Austin Hayes Duvic. His brother, Seymour Simmons Jr., and sister-in-law, Betty Jane Simmons, of Denver, also survive him. His parents and his sister, Hilda Janet Levitt and her husband, Stanley, who were of Midland, Texas, preceded him in death. Joe was very active in the Baton Rouge real estate market for more than 55 years and until very recently worked at his office with Perkins&Son Realtors. He maintained active participation in numerous civic organizations and served as president of his synagogue, Congregation B'nai Israel. Joe was always happy while on the water as an avid boater, hunter and fisherman. He spent his happiest latter days at his fishing camp in Cocodrie, where he was a stranger to no man and dear friend to many. Visitation at Congregation B'nai Israel, 3354 Kleinert Ave., on Friday, July 11, from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m., to be conducted by Rabbi Emeritus Barry Weinstein. Private interment in the Jewish Cemetery will follow the service. Lewis A. Moyse, Hermann Moyse III, Daniel Duvic, Thomas Duvic, Jerry Breland, Charles Mittendorf, Sid Blitzer Jr. and Gregg Fell will serve as pallbearers. Paul Arst, David Ellison and the surviving members of his every-other-Tuesday-night poker game are his honorary pallbearers. His family would be grateful if in lieu of flowers, donations would instead be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, Congregation B'nai Israel, the LSU Foundation or any favored charity.