Bland Frank Simmons

He was born in Brookings, S.D., April 11, 1925 to Forrest and Violet (Wieman) Simmons. In 1940 Bland and his family, including his two siblings, Forrest and Audrey, moved to Salem, Ore., where he attended Salem High School and met the love of his life his sophomore year, Beverly McGilchrist.

Upon graduating from high school he attended one year at Oregon State College and then enlisted in the Army. After six weeks of boot camp he was offered the opportunity to take a difficult "ASTP Academic Test" to see if he could qualify for a special military project. Bland was one of two men in the regiment who passed. That same evening the rest of his platoon was called up to fight at the Battle of the Bulge, and many did not return home. Bland left for Stanford University the following day to join a small group of men from all over the country who had also passed the ASTP Test. These men were being pushed hard with intensive engineering curriculum and unbeknownst to them, they were being prepared to eventually go to Los Alamos and work on the atom bomb. However, Bland and his group never made it there as the need for their research was winding down. By the end of his time at Stanford he had two engineering degrees, electrical and civil. His final degree was earned at OSC in Industrial Engineering. After the war, despite all his engineering qualifications, Bland decided to work in the business field, a decision he never regretted.

In 1947 he married his high school sweetheart and soon moved to Portland to go to work for Eoff Electric. Three years later he started the Bland F. Simmons Co. where he was a manufacturers' representative for household and electronics firms for nearly 40 years, including Regal Ware, Rival, Sound Design and La Machine. He was the driving force to bring the Belgian Waffle Iron to the market for household use after enjoying them in a Palm Springs restaurant.

For 60 years Bland was a member of a "Poker Club," a group of high school and college friends who met once a month to play a card game called Pitch, and chat about investment opportunities. Bland loved vacations and time with his family, card games and reading books.

Bland's wife preceded him in death in 2020. They were happily married for 72 years. Bland is survived by his four children: Susan (Steven deceased) Neal, Steve (Anne) Simmons, Scott (Judy) Simmons, and Karen (Ron) Stark; his seven grandchildren: Erin (Steve) Cottingham, Shannon (Beau) Brinckerhoff, Meghan (Pam Murphy) Simmons, Lindsay (Kyle) Beveridge, Geoffrey (Megan) Simmons,, Shane (Sarah) Simmons, and Craig (Nicole) Simmons; and 11 great-grandchildren: Savannah, Camelia and Deacon Simmons, Flynn and Odell Simmons, William and Sydney Cottingham, Madeline, Eli and Kit Beveridge, and Sloane Simmons. Bland is also survived by his sister, Audrey Van Cleave; sister-in-law, B.J. Simmons; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Grace Evangelistic Ministries: www.gemworlddwide.org

A funeral service for Bland will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary, 6801 SW SUNSET HWY, PORTLAND, OR 97225, followed by a reception from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.finleysunsethills.com for the Simmons family.