Eva Kathryne Meyers Simmons

Eva Meyers Simmons (1924-2026) was born in Fresno, California to farmer parents Will and Johanna Meyers. Always musical, at age 7 Eva accompanied her Brethren church on the organ, and continued playing until she retired as “Organist Emerita” from Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren in Glen Arm, Maryland..

In 1949 Eva married Carl Simmons, Jr., while they were at Bethany Biblical Seminary (son Phillip) in Chicago. They served Brethren churches (and expanded their family) in Saint John, Kansas (son Glenn); Sacramento, California (son Wendell); Yakima, Washington (daughter Virginia); Albany, Oregon (daughter Lynette); Klamath Falls, Oregon; and Dundalk, Maryland; along with interim pastorates at Meadow Branch, Pine Orchard, and Easton, Maryland before retiring from First Church of the Brethren in Baltimore. They attended Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren.

Eva’s professional career was in special education, primarily in Baltimore City’s middle and secondary schools. She earned a Master of Education degree from University of Maryland, College Park.

Eva’s service to the Church has been in many forms: as gifted pianist and organist, teaching adults and children of all ages, quilting to benefit charities including Church of the Brethren Disaster Auctions at Westminster, sorting donations and health kits and packing for SERVV at New Windsor, and countless other roles that accompany being a preacher’s wife. Eva and Carl worked with Dan West, who initiated the relief effort now known as Heifer International, devoted to eliminating world poverty and hunger.

Eva loved family and church potlucks (bringing favorites of lemon meringue pie and meatloaf) and, as in life, she always said “I’ll have a little of everything”, accompanied with a cheerful smile.

Eva looked forward to traveling throughout the United States and maintained contact with distant family and former parishioners, with whom she and her family often stayed on their trips. She made it a priority to expose her children to as many state and national parks as possible, even taking four of them - alone - on a cross-country car trip from Baltimore to see her parents in California, and visit numerous national parks and relatives on the way.

Eva was predeceased by her son Wendell, her husband Carl, and her older sister Esther (age 100). She is survived by her sons Phillip and his wife Linda; Glenn and his wife Lois “Kittie”; daughters Virginia “Gini” and Lynette “Lyn” Miller and her husband Joel. She also leaves her eight grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Monday, April 27 at Schimunek Funeral Home Inc., 9705 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236, from 2:00-5:00 pm, followed by a brief memorial service. Services at the cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to Heifer International. Donate online at www.heifer.org.