Lena Catherine Simmons

Lena Catherine Cline Simmons, age 80, of Conover, NC, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at Catawba Regional Hospice in Sherrills Ford, NC. Born July 13, 1936, in Catawba County, Lena was the daughter of the late Thomas Lee Cline and Vida Keisler Cline.

Lena was a lifetime member of St. Johns Lutheran Church where she was actively involved in many church activities . She taught Sunday School when she was young, and the ministries she participated in included the Blind Mission, Bible Crafters, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Altar Guild, Golden Nuggets and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Her community activites included Girl Scouts, delivering Meals-on-Wheels for 17 years and volunteering at Trinity Nursing Home for 6 years. She also volunteered at the Adult Life Program and Conover School. Lena worked as a bookkeeper for her husband and their business, Charlie’s Bait Shop in Conover, NC.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Charles “Charlie” Everette Simmons of the home; daughters, Tina Riley and husband Chris of Barboursville, VA, Trudy Ruble of Raleigh; brother, Ira Cline and wife Ann of Conover; sister, Annie Boughton and husband Bob of Marietta, GA; grandchildren Corinne Riley, Patrick Riley, Genevieve Riley, Brendan Riley, Erik Ruble and Laura Ruble; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A service of remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Scott Johnson and Rev. Anton Lagoutine officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday, October 14, 2016 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2126 St. John’s Church Rd. NE, Conover, NC, 28613.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to everyone who helped us through this difficult time including her home caregivers and the neighbors, friends and fellow parishioners who brought by meals, offered to drive to appointments, or just stopped by for a visit.