Joe Vernon Simmons, Sr., 85, of Petersburg passed away on May 18, 2025, at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virgina.
Born Feb. 7, 1940, in Franklin, he was a son of the late Lon Joseph Simmons and Hazel Virginia (Kimble) Simmons.
Mr. Simmons was a 1958 graduate of Franklin High School.
He served in the United States Army as military police in Maize, Germany and Wurzburg, Germany. He also was a mechanic for military vehicles. He was a mechanic on small equipment and later owned and operated Eastern Power Service.
After retiring, he and his wife moved back to West Virginia in 2002. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting and fishing. His passion was spending time with his family.
He was a member of Maysville Bible Brethren Church. His wife of nearly 62 years, Bonnie K. (Runion) Simmons, survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Christine Heavner (Nick) of Moorefield, Cathy Berg (Danny) of Maysville and Charlene Crawford (Dwayne) of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; two sons, Joe V. Simmons Jr. of Petersburg and Daniel Simmons (Mark) of Washington, DC; eight grandchildren, William “Willie” Heavner, Jr., Sarah Gilhuys, Danny “Dusty” Berg, Jr., Valerie Ratliff (Josh), Kaitlyn Berg, Sandy Crawford, Brianna Crawford and Alyssa Crawford; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Stella Weatherholtz (Robert) of Dorcas; two brothers, Mahlon Simmons (Connie) of Mt Airy, Maryland, and Troy Simmons of Conway, South Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Norman R. “Bud” Simmons; and two sisters-in-law, Anita Simmons and JoAnn Simmons.
A funeral service was held Wednesday in the chapel of the Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg with Pastor Lynn Durbin officiating. A military graveside service was conducted at Cherry Hill Cemetery in Upper Tract by the Grant County Veterans Honor Guard and United States Army Honor Guard.
Memorial donations may be made to Maysville Bible Brethren Church, P.O. Box 213, Maysville, WV 26833.
Online condolences may be left at www.schaefferfuneral home.com.
