William Simons

Family-Placed Death Notice

SIMONS, William WILLIAM LeGER SIMONS June 3, 1925 - November 18, 2012 William LeGer "Bill" Simons, age 87, of Griffin, passed away Sunday, November 18, 2012 at his son Robert Simons' residence. Mr. Simons was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 3, 1925 to the late Taveau Mitchell Simons and the late Jane Lance Read Simons. During World War II, Mr. Simons served in the U.S. Navy. When he and his wife Elizabeth Ann Neel Simons moved to Griffin in 1952, he owned and operated Orchard Hill Lumber Company, and later was a owner/operator partner of Quality LP Gas Company. Bill was an avid sports participant throughout his life, and in 2010 was inducted into the Griffin Spalding County Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Boy's High in Atlanta and graduated in 1943. While in High School, he was a member of the tennis team, track team, basketball team and cross country team, all of which he lettered. He first attended Emory at Oxford and then graduated from the University of Georgia, with a degree in Business in 1949; while at the University of Georgia he was a member of the 1948 and 1949 tennis team, lettering both years. In Griffin, Bill was the City Golf champion 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1975. In 1960 he set a course record with a 64, which he held for many years. In tennis, he was state Senior Open winner in doubles in 1993 (65 years and older), USTA Senior Indoor Open doubles champ 1993 (65 and older), Crackerland doubles champ 1992, 1994 and 1995 (65 and older), Georgia State Adult Open doubles champ 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 (65 and older), and Griffin champion 1992 men's doubles. Mr. Simons attended and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Griffin. He was preceded earlier this year by the late Elizabeth Ann Neel Simons, his wife of 61 years. Survivors include his sons and daughter-in-law, Billy Simons, Robert "Robby" and Elizabeth "Eli" Simons, all of Griffin; daughter and son-in-law, Ann Neel Simons Hearn and Stephen Tobolowsky of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Bonnie Simons, Robert and William Tobolowsky, Sarah and Keating Simons. A Celebration of Life service for Mr. Bill Simons will be held Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church. Reverend Brian McCartney will lead the service; friends may also visit the family in the Parlor from 1:00 p.m. until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Griffin Country Club Greens Committee c/o Jim Campbell, 1710 Quail Drive, Griffin, GA 30223 or to the scholarship program for the Georgia State Golf Association Foundation (gsga.org) in memory of Bill Simons. Heritage Funeral Home 1512 Williamson Rd. Griffin, GA 30224 is in charge of arrangements. www.heritagefhgriffin.com