William (Bill) Sterling Simms

In the early hours of November 2nd 2018, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, William (Bill) Sterling Simms returned to his Heavenly Father and reunited with his mother and father, his sister Shirley (Thompson) and other beloved family members.  He passed away quietly at the George E. Wahlan Veteran’s Home, where he had received wonderful and loving care during his more than 4 years of dementia.

Bill was born on November 29, 1926, to Sterling McClain Simms and Irene Linnell Bult.  He grew up in Long Beach, California and lived in the same home until he married.  As he got older he enjoyed sports.  Bill lettered in tennis in high school and played 2nd base and pitched in a city league and for his ward slo-pitch team.  Golf was another of his favorites.  He became an accomplished pianist in his youth and took it up again later in life.  He served in the Navy for 18 months during World War II in Philadelphia and New York as a hospital corpsman and driver in the military carpool.  After his service he attended Long Beach City College and received his California Meat Cutter Apprentice Certificate.  He worked as a meat cutter for 35 years.

Bill married Marlene Janace Nelson 61 years ago on August 23, 1957, in the Los Angeles, California temple.  They raised their family in Los Alamitos, California until they moved to Bountiful, Utah in 1979.  Bill showed his love to his family through his constant hard work as a meat cutter and department manager.  He retired in 1989 and then started a yard care business in the Bountiful area which kept him busy until May of 2010, at the age of 83. His strong work ethic has been passed along to his children and grandchildren.

Bill was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many positions:  Stake missionary in California and again in Bountiful, Sunday School teacher to youth, Elders quorum presidency, Primary pianist, Cub Master, Bountiful Temple ordinance worker, missionary with his wife, Marlene, in the Billings Montana mission in Sealy Lake, where he also served as counselor in the Branch Presidency, and later served with Marlene at the Meadows Branch as Activity Chairmen.

Bill is survived by his wife, Marlene Janace Nelson Simms, children Markelle (Dr. Bradley) Rule, Julie (Derrall) Adams, Jon (Anji) Simms, David (Anne) Simms, Jennifer (Eric) Hansen and Jaime (John) Benich, 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful, Utah.  There will also be a viewing Monday, November 12, 2018 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bountiful 53rd Ward, 1365 N. 650 E., Bountiful, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m.  Interment at the Lakewiew Memorial Cemetery, Bountiful, Utah.