Lowell Wayne Sims

Funeral services for Lowell Wayne Sims, 69, of Copperas Cove are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Lowell Wayne Sims, a retired Vietnam veteran, passed away peacefully at home on September 2, 2011. Affectionately called Wayne by his family and friends, Wayne was born in Paragould, Arkansas on February 22, 1942 and grew up in Michigan. He retired from the US Army in 1980, had three children, and was an avid pool player. He played with the same team for 18 years and had in recent years started playing with Wheel Chair Pool Players Association. Wayne loved to travel and would take off on a road trip at the drop of a hat. Although his numerous medical issues at times made him appear frail, he possessed incredible strength, perseverance and an amazing ability to overcome incredible odds and physical challenges. Through his courage, he has taught all of us to treat each day as a gift from God and an opportunity to create lasting memories.

Wayne was a lifetime member of the Society of the 1st Infantry Division; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #3393; American Legion Post # 582; Disabled American Veterans Post #29, and the National Rifle Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Maude Sims, brothers, Donald and James Sims, and daughter Vicki Sims, and granddaughter, Sarah Lassiter.

Wayne is survived by his daughters, Sandra Lassiter, and her husband, Dean; Caroyn Borel, and her husband, Clint, all of North Carolina; sister, Joyce Balcom of Michigan; sister-in-law Virginia Sims of Arizona; nieces, Julie Balcom of Tennessee; Dorcas McCown of California; nephew John Sims of Arizona, and grandchildren, Emily Borel, Dillon Borel, Sadie Lassiter, Samuel Lassiter of North Carolina.

Memorials may be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, [email protected].

A time of visitation will be Monday evening from 5 to 7 pm at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home.

Words of encouragement may be made at www.crawfordbowerscopperascove.com