Memorial Set for Pat Simmons

A memorial service for Pat Simmons will be Wednesday, June 23 at 2:00 p. m. at the First United Methodist Church of Mineral Wells. There will be no graveside services - the family will receive visitors immediately after the service in the church parlor.

June 15, 2010

Pat Simmons

Mineral Wells Index

MINERAL WELLS — Pat Simmons, 76, died in Mineral Wells on Monday, June 14, 2010, after a brief illness.

A memorial service will be at First United Methodist Church of Mineral Wells, with details pending.

He was born July 15, 1933, in Vernon, Texas, to Onie and Eva Simmons and was a resident of Mineral Wells for over 50 years, where he was a high school teacher, coach and later a mechanical engineer for Centron Corporation.

Pat graduated from Oklaunion High School, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth and had additional post-graduate work in Physics at the University of Texas and Colorado State University.

On July 30, 1954, he married Sara Duncan in Valley View, Texas.

In 1954, Mr. Simmons taught and coached at Joshua High School then moved to Mineral Wells High School, where he taught Math and Science and coached football, basketball and baseball from 1956 until 1968. He started the baseball program at the high school, and had many successful teams in his coaching career.

In 1968, he worked a summer job at Privitt Plastics, which later became Centron Corporation, and that summer job turned into a 40-year career as a mechanical engineer. While at Centron, he engineered and developed their major product, fiberglass pipe, and received a patent for the joint design. In addition to the pipe design, he also designed and developed the process and machinery for manufacturing the pipe.

Mr. Simmons was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mineral Wells and was a former Mineral Wells ISD School Board member, as well as serving on other community organizations. He was recently inducted into the Teacher Hall of Fame by the MWHS 50 Year Club.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sara Simmons, of Mineral Wells; his mother in law, DeLois Duncan, of Mineral Wells; a son, Paul Simmons and wife, Susan, of Wichita Falls, Texas; a daughter, Christi Simmons, of Dallas; a sister, Donna Remus, of Fort Worth; a brother, Ronnie Simmons, of Vernon, Texas; granddaughters, Amy and Bonnie Haley, of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his parents; and one daughter, Linda Haley.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ty Gore, Dr. Ed Evans, Robert Waddy, the staff at Palo Pinto Nursing Center and all the friends who visited for their kindness and compassion during Pat’s illness.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to a favorite charity.

Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home