Gerald Dallas Simmons

1938 - 2024

Gerald Dallas Simmons, 85, of Hardy, Virginia, claimed the promise of Resurrection in the afternoon hours of Thursday, April 4, 2024.
He was born at the family home in Stewartsville, Virginia on November 28, 1938, to Virginia Belle and Carlton Lewis Simmons, the second of four “stairsteps” as the Simmons children often referred to themselves when lining up for photos. He spent his early childhood on the farm, whether it was watching workers canning tomatoes in the family business or helping his grandfather store, dry, and sell tobacco at the local markets. The tomato business he enjoyed, the tobacco crops, not so much. He often said his family raised tobacco thirteen months out of the year. It was not a crop he enjoyed.
Gerald graduated from Stewartsville High School in 1958, where he also served as a school bus driver for his family and classmates. That is, until his mother hid the keys to keep his brother from borrowing the school bus, making Gerald late for pickup and late to school with the students, thus ending his school bus driving career. However, he continued to make a name for himself at school, voted Best Personality, Friendliest, and Best Physique during his senior year. To quote his yearbook, “Full of fun and mischief too, he likes doing things he shouldn’t do.” His friendliness, humor, and care-free ways made an indelible impression on his classmates; for many years he enjoyed the Stewartsville reunion lunches, reminiscing and catching up with his dear classmates.
After graduating from high school, Gerald joined the United States Army, in which he served from August of 1958 until August of 1964. Stationed in Friedburg, Germany, he often liked to share that he was stationed in the same place and at the same time as Elvis Presley, but he broke more hearts than the King of Rock and Roll.
Following his Army service, Gerald worked at several local jobs in the Roanoke area, ultimately becoming a bus driver (again) for a time with Greyhound Bus Lines. During his time at Greyhound, Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington was scheduled for the late summer. Many of the drivers refused to drive any African Americans to the event, despite having chartered buses secured. Gerald did not hesitate to volunteer, even though credible threats to buses and their occupants had been made.
On August 28, 1963, he drove a bus from Roanoke to Washington, D.C, and in his own small way played a part in advocating for civil and economic rights of African Americans. His political activism became a thread throughout his life. A staunch and passionate Democrat, Gerald spent his entire life involved in political campaigning and service. As a sign of gratitude and respect for his election work, he was personally invited to the inauguration of Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale in January of 1977 in the city of Washington. The framed invitation still hangs on his wall.
In 1964, Gerald married a cute North Carolinian, Gail Thornhill, whom he had noticed sunbathing in her backyard. He and Gail moved back to Roanoke, and in 1965 gave birth to Dallas Simmons, followed by Lisa Renee Simmons in 1968. The marriage didn’t last, but the friendship did. Gerald and Gail remained close and incredibly proud of both of their children.
Gerald joined the Roanoke City Fire Department in 1965 and served at several fire stations throughout the city during his career. It was at the fire department that Gerald made many lifelong friends and “partners in crime”. Whether putting out fires, dating women, building houses, or just sharing life stories and adventures in a trailer at Smith Mountain Lake, the men that Gerald served with were true brothers, visiting Gerald and swapping stories with him until his last days. In addition to driving a ladder truck (both front and back), Gerald achieved the rank of Captain before retiring in 1991.
He also served as Vice President and President of the Roanoke Firefighters Association, working tirelessly to improve wages and benefits for all firefighters in the city.
Never one to sit still, Gerald also completed both his auctioneer license and his real estate license in the late 1980s. He used his skills to secure land and property in and around the Roanoke area, building and selling homes well into the early 2000s. He also once helped to auction Lucy Addison Middle School student artwork during an evening art show at the Harrison Museum. Gerald used his auctioneering training to showcase each student’s work, and students were allowed to keep the profits from winning bids. With good natured ribbing but steely intent, Gerald led bidders to make some incredible offers, and students left with the invaluable feeling that their work was worthy. And they had the cash to prove it. This was who he was: Gerald always made everyone feel better, and he left everyone richer than they had been before. Gerald once said that if he married again, the woman would need her own money, her own business, and her own convertible. And in 1992, he met a beautiful woman who ticked all the boxes. Gerald met and married his soul mate, and the love of his life, Carol Mraz Simmons. Together they traveled the United States, the Caribbean, and into Europe. Carol brought an element of style and adventure to Gerald’s life, and he loved every minute with his “Sweetie”. They were charter founders of the Vinton Relay For Life, raising thousands of dollars and attending years of weekend relays and fundraisers. Whether camping in their RoadTrek in Cracker Barrel parking lots, or sailing the Danube, Gerald’s happiest moments were with Carol; he rarely enjoyed anything without her. Together they built a happy and animal-filled home at Rotten Ridge in Hardy, a home he was most proud to share with her.
Gerald was unceasingly proud of his two kids, Dallas and Lisa. He said he made a few mistakes in his life, but he “...sure did raise two great kids.” Even better than his children were his five grandchildren, who were endlessly entertained by “PawPaw’s” antics, inappropriateness, and colorful pearls of wisdom that he never hesitated to share. From “If you want to keep flies out of the kitchen, then make your mess in the living room” to “Grass don’t wait on you, pal” to “The more you stir the stink, the stinkier it gets so just let that dog sleep”...PawPaw’s wisdom was not easy to ignore. (or follow). He also had a horrendous habit of not truly listening when taking food orders for grandkids on trips to fast food restaurants. The difference between “what you ordered” and “what you got” were always surprising and entertaining, and rarely anything remotely like what his grandchildren requested. Despite this, he was adored by all five, and they each cherished visits from and with their PawPaw who never failed to quietly whisper to each one, “You’re the best one, but don’t tell the others!”
In his lifetime, Gerald survived two types of cancer, open heart surgery, Lyme’s Disease, ehrlichiosis and a stroke. He began his long fight with dementia and Alzheimer’s in 2016, but he did not give up easily. Strong, sassy, and funny until the end, Gerald often shared that his life was one full of blessings; he was grateful for each day upon this earth. As the recognized, unofficial “Mayor of Vinton”, Gerald held court at McDonalds, the Dogwood, and the Lancerlot Sports Complex on a daily if not weekly basis, until circumstances made this no longer possible. From then on, his room at Rotten Ridge was filled with friends and family and visits and laughter. So many of us were blessed to be his family, his friend, his nurse or his caregiver.
Gerald is survived by his wife of thirty-two years, Carol Mraz Simmons; one son, Dallas (Heather); one daughter, Lisa Whitfield; grandsons, Billy Whitfield, Grayson (Sydney) Simmons, and Matthew Whitfield; and granddaughters, Katie (Exree) Hipp, and Emily (Nick) Foley. He is also survived by a sister, Jean Moriarty; a brother, Garland (Carolyn) Simmons; his brother-in-law, Tommy (Diane) Mraz; and numerous dear nieces and nephews. Gerald leaves behind a special and devoted friend, John Hale, who never failed to visit Gerald throughout his entire illness. Gerald Simmons was a mighty man of family, faith, and friendship. He will be so very missed.
The family would also like to thank the nurses of Good Samaritan Hospice, with a special thanks to Kirsten Gordon, who was with both Gerald and Carol until the very end.
A visitation for Gerald will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 4 until 8 p.m. at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with a service to follow on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel. The service will be live streamed from Oakey’s website; the link is included in his online obituary.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Good Samaritan Hospice (www.goodsam.care), Relay For Life (www.relayforlife,org), or The Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org). Online condolences may be made at www.Oakeys.com.

Arrangements by Oakey's Funeral Service - Vinton Chapel, Vinton, VA (540) 982-2221.