Simmons, Ruth Hendrickson
Ruth Hendrickson Simmons passed away on Monday January 9th, 2017. She was born in Pembroke, Virginia, on December 15th, 1923 to the late Dorsey Zed and Maggie Rose Hendrickson Sesler.
She was later adopted by her grandparents, the late Ott and India Fisher Hendrickson. She graduated from Pembroke High School in 1940 where she played basketball and participated in various other activities and clubs. She was a member of the FFA, loved living on a farm, and was an avid horse rider. She attended Radford State Teachers College and graduated from Bowling Green State College.
She worked for the Pentagon in Washington D.C. during World War II and then transferred to Seattle, Washington to marry her future husband, William G. Simmons on February 17th, 1945. After the war, they moved to Narrows, Virginia, where she worked for Celanese and later, the William G. Simmons Company. She raised six children while being an active member of the United Methodist Church, where she was also a Sunday School teacher. Ruth was a talented seamstress and enjoyed knitting and crocheting for her children and grandchildren. She was an active member of her local Bridge Club and The Red Hat Society.
In addition to her mother, father, and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years and her brother Bill Hendrickson.
She is survived by her six children: sons, John G. and Donna Simmons, Mark W. and Denise Simmons, William K. Simmons and Sarah Magerfield, and Kevin E. and Julie Simmons; daughters, Jeanne S. and Kerry Armentrout, and Merry S. and William Hobbs. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Also surviving, is one brother, R.B. Hendrickson; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 13th, 2017 at 11 AM at First United Methodist Church in Narrows with Rev. Doug Armstrong and Pastor Eddie Kendall officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Narrows. The family will receive friends at First United Methodist Church Friday from 10 AM until just prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.