Betty Evelyn Simmons, 86, born March 20, 1929, to Ralph and Alice Niggli in Rochester, New York, passed away at her Brookdale Clare Bridge apartment in Williamsburg on February 7, 2016.
She was the only girl of five children and was adored, spoiled and protected by her loving brothers Bob, Warren, Dick (preceded in death) and Fred.
She was the widow of Charles E. Simmons, whom she loved and cherished to her death. They met when she was a WAC stationed at Fort Lee in 1950. She often spoke of their initial meeting at the dining hall where she was eating with two other ladies. Charles (Chuck) walked in and kept looking at her; she couldn’t believe, no matter what her girlfriends said, that he was taken with her until he asked her out for a date that same weekend. Her heart belonged to him from then on. They were married on 7 Oct 1950; then, as Corporal Charles E. Simmons (later gaining the rank of Major) and Private Betty E. Niggli.
While traveling the world, they had three sons Rex (Linette), Ralph and Charles (Cindy). She also leaves behind four grandchildren Rex and Cheri (of parents Rex and Linette), Jason and Julie (of parents Ralph and Carol); and her wonderful friend and caregiver, Betty, with her two sons, Joel and Jonathan. Even more left to cherish her memory are seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and her adoring nieces and nephews from across the country and their families.
We all will rejoice with her meeting our Lord in Heaven. We all pray He will give her a joyful reunion with her husband, parents and brothers, which she has loved and missed sorely in the past years. We ask that all who knew Betty will just relish the relationship they had with her and remember the wonderful lady that she was.
We are grateful for the exceptional care and love given to Betty and offer our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at Brookdale Clare Bridge unit and to Hospice Community Care. Your support, concern for Betty and her family, and devotion will not be forgotten.
The family will receive family and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 11, at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg.
A celebration of life ceremony officiated by Chaplain Jessica Yandell will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Friday, February 12.
She will be laid to rest beside Chuck in a private ceremony at Southlawn Memorial Park in South Prince George at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 13.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
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