Edhat StaffJohn Wheeler Simms born November 20, 1936 in Jacksonville, Texas to Bodie and Bennie (Franklin) Simms. His family settled in Santa Barbara in 1944. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Santa Barbara Junior High, Santa Barbara High School, and graduated from UCSB with a B.A. in Zoology.
Honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1962 having served as a Medical Specialist, John earned decorations as marksman (rifle) and expert (carbine). He later worked for General Electric and then UCSB as Manager of Loan Collections.
He was an active member of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. His family was one of the two families that were the founders of Lewis Chapel CME Church in Santa Barbara.
Thursday, February 22, 2018, John passed away peacefully at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bodie and Bennie Simms and leaves behind his devoted siblings: Myrtle A. Simms, William B. Simms, Julia Simms Taylor and many other relatives and friends. A viewing was held on March 7, 2018 and the funeral service was on March 8th.
