John Newton Simmons

John Newton Simmons, age 89, passed away on March 2, 2011 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee after a brief illness. John was born October 10, 1921 to Josephine and Lester Simmons in Wenatchee. He attended school at Dry Flat District 49 on Badger Mountain one year, and then transferred to the Waterville School District, graduating from high school there in 1939. After joining the army in 1942, John took his basic training at Fort Warren, Wyoming. He earned the rank of First Lieutenant and was transferred to Fort Vancouver, Washington, and served in the Quarter Master Corp in Burma during WWII, ending up in India. In 1946, John returned to the US and worked at the Waterville Grange Supply. In addition, he worked driving wheat truck for his future father-in-law, Hans Polson. On May 10, 1947, John married Emily Polson at the Federated Church in Waterville. He and his wife moved to Spokane where he worked in the parts department for International Harvester Co. Five years later in 1952, after Emily had graduated from Whitworth College and completed nurses training at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, they moved to Waterville where he worked at the Waterville Implement Company. In 1965 his family moved to Wenatchee where he worked at Joe Welty Ford for 25 years. In Wenatchee he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as an Elder and sang in the choir, together with his wife for 35 years. Among his many interests included sports, fishing and hunting. At one time John was viewed as a potential pro-baseball player. He was a long-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars including serving as the Post Commander in Waterville. Survivors include his wife Emily of Wenatchee, one son, Newton Simmons of Falls Church, Virginia, two daughters and son-in-laws, Nan and Chris Klix of Lake Stevens and Martha and Mark Cattin of Soap Lake; Grandchildren include Julie Cattin of Columbus, Georgia, John Cattin of Soap Lake, Jonathan Simmons of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Anea Klix of Seattle; One sister Caroline Gormley of Mountlake Terrace and one brother, Billy Witten of Badger Mountain and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceding John in death are his parents Josephine Witten and Lester Simmons, and two brothers Alton and Walter Simmons. Memorial services will take place March 19th at 2:00 PM at the Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Wenatchee Presbyterian Church or the Waterville Federated Church.

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John Newton Simmons

October 10, 1921 - March 2, 2011