Larry Simms

Larry L. Simms, 75, of Indianapolis, formerly of Springfield, went home to be with his Lord on, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. Larry was born to Frances Neal Arnold and S.B. (Samuel Bond) Simms of Springfield on March 4, 1939.
Larry graduated valedictorian from Springfield High School, and in 1961 graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. On Aug. 26, of the same year, he married the love of his life, Nancy Pinkston. They relocated to Indianapolis, Ind., where he worked at the Naval Avionics Facility until 1970. Between 1961 and 1968 he attended Purdue University's Evening Division earning his Masters in Engineering.
Larry took a position at Eli Lilly and Company in the Scientific Systems Programming Group in 1970. Larry loved working at Lilly where he held various positions for the next 35 years until his retirement in 2005. For a seven-year span during his time at Lilly, he taught Statistics for Butler University's Evening Division and after his retirement, worked as a statistical consultant for the Research Technologies division of Indiana University's IT organization (UITS).
Larry was an active member of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church in Carmel, Ind., for 38 years. He sang in the choir, played in the hand bell choir and over time served as an elder, clerk of the session and a longstanding member of the outreach committee. Larry's love of algebra and calculus led him to volunteer as a mathematics tutor for the young people of Orchard Park and his neighborhood.
His parents and his only brother, Dr. Harold B. Simms, preceded him in death.
Larry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy; his children, Stephen Carlisle Simms of Bloomington, Ind. and Jennifer Diane (Bill) Zorn of Indianapolis, grandchildren; Rebecca Carlisle and Rachel Kientzy Zorn; sisters-in-law, Margaret Pinkston and Kathryn Simms both of Springfield and the following nieces and nephews and their families: Harold Simms, Lisanne (Simms) Craven, Mike Simms, Jeanine (Simms) Bottom, Laura (Simms) Bowra, John Simms and Mary Kay Simms.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church with Rev. Clay Stevens, pastor of the Springfield Presbyterian Church, officiating.
Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were Stephen C. Simms, Bill Zorn, Harold Simms, Mike Simms, John Simms and John Craven.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to, The Christian School of New Vision in Haiti in care of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church or to the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church.
Carey & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.