Charles Edwin Simmons

Mr. Charles ""Charlie"" Edwin Simmons, 91, of Winston-Salem, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015.

Charlie was born February 6, 1924 in Patrick County, VA to Joel and Cassie Simmons. He entered the Air Force in November 1942 as part of the Air Force Cadet Program and graduated from the Twin Engine Flight School in Marfa, Texas, in 1943. He spent one year in the China Burma India Theater of Operations as a combat pilot. He holds decorations from three major battles, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew a C-47 for Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from Bangkok in mid-1945, picking up British and other allied escapees and British troops deserted by the Japanese from the jungles of Thailand. After having flown 445 combat missions, he was released for home in 1945. Charlie continued to serve in an Air Force Reserve capacity as an Administrative Officer for a squadron of Air Force personnel for ten years. He retired in March 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel from an Air Force staff job in Washington, D.C. During his tour with the Air Force staff in D.C., he was given a Top Secret assignment in connection with preparing certain war plans. The assignment included briefings at the Pentagon on Vietnam activities and operational duties at Andrews Air Force Base for daily traffic, including Air Force One for the President. In 1995, Charlie was elected by the Hump Pilots Association to serve on the Board of Directors. The following year he was elected Chairman of the Board and in 1997, became their President.

Charlie joined the Western Electric Company in 1952 as a Cost Accountant at the Western Electric Company Chatham Road Plant in Winston-Salem. In 1968, he was promoted to Department Chief, Purchase and Transportation Division performing buying, cost and price analysis, prime and subcontractor interface involving government procurements while working at Guilford Center in Greensboro. In 1989, he retired from Lucent Technologies after 37 years of service.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 with a major in accounting after attending National Business College in Roanoke, Virginia and the University of Akron, Ohio. He returned to the college campus in 1971 and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1973 with a Master of Business Administration degree in general business. He was a longtime member of Ardmore United Methodist Church. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Nannie Ruth White, and brothers, James, Wayne, Richard, and Bill Simmons.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Billie Sommerville Simmons of the home; stepdaughter, Marsha Huet of Clarksburg, WV; and brothers, Wayne Simmons and Linward Simmons of Virginia.

A celebration of Charlie's life will be held Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 2 pm at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek with Rev. Jock Ollis officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private family burial will take place in Stuart, VA.

Previous Events

Cemetery Details