Carlyle Simmons

Simmons, Carlyle B. (Carbide), age 82, of Christiansburg, VA, passed away Saturday January 10, 2009.
He was born in Montgomery County on August 28, 1926 a son of the late Toy and Lather Simmons. He was also preceded in death by his wife of fifty years, Charlotte (Dodie) Simmons and sister Geneva Simmons.

Carbide is survived by his two sons and daughter-in-law: Steven and Gena Simmons of Christiansburg, VA and David Simmons of Newport Richey, FL; daughter Kathie Simmons of Graysontown, VA; a special niece he considered a daughter Terri Ireland and husband Bob of Alexandria, VA; along with three grandchildren he adored: Emily Simmons, Mitchell Matney and Laura Matney. He is also survived by two sisters: Eleanor Temple of Chester, VA and Evelyn Breth and husband J. Tim of Williamsport, NY, along with a special aunt, Virginia Roop of Christiansburg, VA.

Carbide served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for a period of time. As a young man, Carbide had a love for the game of baseball and later played softball for many years. He retired from the government working in Quality Assurance at RAAP. Upon retirement, he drove a school bus for the Montgomery County School System taking many sports teams to their various events throughout the area. He truly loved traveling to these sporting events and having the opportunity to observe any sporting event that he provided the transportation for. Carbide was also an avid bowler in his earlier years and was inducted into the Virginia State Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a longtime member of the Montgomery County Moose Lodge. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in his name to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad.

A funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday January 14, 2009 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with Dr. David A. Goodpasture officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday January 13, 2009.