Allen Nesbit Simmons

SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. - Allen Nesbit Simmons, 83, of Surfside Beach, died Saturday, June 28, 2008.

Allen was born September 21, 1924 in North Bennington, Vt., the son of Herman McLane "Jack" Simmons and Marcia Allen Simmons.

He graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and was a three-year Army veteran of World War II, serving with the glider troops in France and the Air Force cadet program. He attended Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.

He retired after 33 years with Union Carbide Corporation as an engineering manager, living in New York, Ohio, Tenn., and West Virginia. He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Lodge and Moose Club. He was a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and Tenn.

Allen was a nine-gallon blood donor and ran the local Red Cross Program in Tenn. He was a licensed Episcopalian lay reader in Tennessee and West Virginia and led the start up of a new Episcopal Church in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

He was an avid golfer, and proud to have designed and built the first log cabin home in Surfside Beach, S.C, having done much of the construction himself. His annual summer visits to the Cape were very special to him.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carolyn Anne (Quance) Simmons, and his fiancée of 11 years, Jean B. Alexander. Surviving are his daughters; Nancy Anne Crossman and husband, Daryl, with grandchildren Nicholaus and Kyra of Sandwich; Sally Anne Wilson and husband, Randolph, with granddaughter Emily Anne of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a twin brother, Arthur C. Simmons and his wife, Therese, of North Bennington, Vt.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Surfside Beach, S.C.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the MSPCA, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.