Arley Isaac Simmons Jr.

He was born Monday, Sept. 23, 1940, at Hambleton, West Virginia, a son of the late Isaac Pinkney Simmons and Bertha Virginia Smith Simmons.

On Dec. 30, 1962, at Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, he was married to the former Bernice “Leigh” Vanscoy, who preceded him in death April 16, 2012. They had celebrated 49 years of marriage.

Surviving are two daughters, June A. Nixon and husband, Jay, of Elkins, and Barbara L. Wiseman and husband, Gary, of Elkins; one stepson, Gary L. Smith of Elkins; two sisters, Patty Phillips and husband, Chuck, of Martinsburg, and Carol A. Rumer of Pennsylvania; one brother, Bobby Simmons; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; and his companion, Connie Cottrell.

Preceding him in death are one son, Michael A. Smith; three daughters, Linda Boyles, Carol M. Wolfe and Delaine Ellen Riffle; one grandson, Scott Boyles; and one infant great-granddaughter.

He attended the schools of Terra Alta. He was a veteran of the United States Army, the Army Reserve and the West Virginia National Guard. During his time in the service, he was stationed in Puerto Rico with the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He had worked various trades at the Kelly Foundry, the Western Maryland Railroad, Elkins Coin Laundry, Memorial General Hospital, Chenoweth Construction and Elkins Tire Company. He worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways Bridge Department and retired as a crane operator.

He was a long-standing member of the H.W. Daniels Post 29, American Legion, where he served as chaplain and District 9 chaplain. He was a member of the For Chaplain Memorial Foundation, and the Elkins Lodge 116, I.O.O.F., where he had been presented several awards.

He attended Tygart Valley Ministries Beverly Community Church. He was an ordained minster and later became a licensed minister and loved to sing in church.

In his free time he enjoyed hunting and gardening.

A Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery at Cravensdale, West Virginia. The Elkins Lodge 116, I.O.O.F. will conduct ritualistic services. Minister Nathan Bennett will officiate and full military honors will be accorded by members of the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard Program, the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion and the Tygart Valley Post 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Interment will follow.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of the arrangements for Arley Isaac Simmons Jr.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.