Jimmy Simons, 96, of Lake Panasoffkee, Florida passed away peacefully on April 2, 2025. He was born February 28, 1929 in Richwood, West Virginia to parents Charles and Lula (Starcher) Simons. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Patsy (Painter) Simons and his brother, Ken Simons of Summersville, WV.
Jimmy graduated from Richwood High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January of 1951, completing basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas and then gunnery training. He was a tail gunner on B29 aircraft in the Korean War, flying multiple combat missions. After the Korean War, he completed training for inflight air refueling on KC135 aircraft and became a boom operator.
He later became an air refueling instructor and trained many boom operators. Jimmy served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and received many awards, recognitions and medals. He was stationed at seven different bases in the United States and traveled to many temporary duty stations around the world. He served almost 22 years before retiring as a SMSgt (Senior Master Sargent) in 1972. He relocated to Tampa, Florida and became a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office, where he worked for another 20 years before retiring.
Jimmy is survived by his three children: Karen Bistany (Red) of Tampa, Florida; Vicki Trottier (Doug) of Covington, Georgia; and Charlie Simons (Sherry) of Lake Panasoffkee, Florida; six grandchildren: Brian, Kimberly, Allison (Jeremy), James (Lauren), Rachel, Kasey Lynne (Jake), ten great grandchildren: Caleb, Kaiya, Karys, Brooks, Cooper, Harlow, Evie, Jackson, Ransom and Tenley; two brothers: Lynn Simons of Summersville, WV and Bill Simons (Anna) of Fouke, AK; and many other extended family members and friends who will miss him very much.
A visitation will be held at Purcell Chapel in Bushnell from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. and a remembrance ceremony with full military honors will be held at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell on April 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. All arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home-Purcell Chapel in Bushnell, FL.