Fred Melbourne Simmons, 85, of Dallas, TX departed peacefully to be with his Lord on Tuesday, July 16 at 11:10 p.m. in Dallas, TX. Fred was born November 5, 1927 in Dallas, TX to Isaac Poole Simmons and Ethel Mae Groves Simmons. He graduated from Sunset High School in Oak Cliff, and from Southern Methodist University (class of 1951) with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. In 1957 he married Peggy Francis Hodge of Ennis, TX. Fred retired in 1985 as a district right-of-way engineer from the Texas Department of Transportation, having worked there for 35 years. Peggy and Fred served the Lord together for over 50 years at Casa View Baptist Church in east Dallas, leading and teaching children’s and adult Sunday school classes and singing in the adult choir, among other ministries. Fred was especially known for his inspirational chalk talk presentations which he did regularly for numerous churches for over 50 years. In 2010 Fred and Peggy moved to Autumn Leaves independent living at White Rock Lake. At Autumn Leaves, Fred led the music in the Sunday morning worship services for Lakeview Fellowship. He touched lives no matter where he was, and was loved by all for his caring concern, quick wit, and encouraging, joyful presence. Fred loved playing cards with his family and friends, and tennis with his tennis buddies. He also enjoyed oil painting; his home, and those of his children, are filled with his beautiful artwork. Fred is survived by Peggy Simmons, his wife of 55 years; his children Susan Simmons, Patti Simmons and husband Karl Brock, of Belhaven, NC; Kay Simmons Adkins and husband Carl of Mountain View, AR; Greg Simmons and wife Miriam, of Fort Worth, TX; Fred’s brother Glenn Edward Simmons of Arlington, TX; his sister Sarah Catherine (Tillie) Russell of Van, TX; grandchildren Janelle, Emily, Monica, Jason, Isaac, Caleb, Hannah, Hope, Lydia, Luke, Melissa and Tracy; ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Brian Brock; his sister-in-law, Lucille Simmons; and Fred and Peggy’s beloved family pets, cats Beau and Jonah. Funeral service is 2:00p.m., Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, 9810 La Prada, Dallas, TX 75228 with a visitation beginning at 1:00p.m. Interment will follow at Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, TX. The family requests that memorial gifts in Fred’s honor be sent to the Texas Baptist Men disaster relief organization, or to Lakeview Fellowship at Autumn Leaves.
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