Roll Call Tribute
Cecil "Ken" Simmons '57 May 22, 2018 9:03 AM updated: May 22, 2018 9:07 AM
R.L. Leintz Funeral Home obituary
4701 10th Ave.
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Ph: 1-913-351-0200
Cecil Kenneth Simmons
Cecil Kenneth Simmons, 84, of Leavenworth, died, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Easton, Kan., with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born Nov. 4, 1933, in Hillsboro, Texas the son of Cecil Thomas and Mildred Lorraine (Maxwell) Simmons.
On Aug. 3, 1957, Cecil married Marilyn Jean Storey. She survives at the home. He is also survived by a daughter, Laura (Brad) Murray; and two grandchildren, Meghan (Spencer) Alyssa Johnson and Sean Worth Murray.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Cecil Kenneth Simmons, Jr.
He graduated from Texas A & M in May of 1957. After graduating, Kenneth was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in June of 1957, where he served 24 years in the United States Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1981. His military career included two tours in Vietnam both in the Mekong River Delta. From May 1964 to May 1965 he was an advisor to a Vietnamese Infantry Battalion, from Dec. 1970 to July 1972 he served as the Deputy Province Senior Advisor in Dinh Tuong Province. Ken earned a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, a Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.
He played a role in a historic moment in the year 1962. As commander of Company D, 327th Airborne Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division he deployed from Ft. Campbell, Ky., to Oxford Miss., where his unit helped to quell the riots that erupted when James Meredith attempted to enroll in the all-white University of Mississippi. His last duty assignment was at Ft. Leavenworth where he was an instructor in the Dept. of Tactics at the Command and General Staff College.
After his retirement from active duty he joined the faculty at Benton High School in St. Joseph Mo. for 14 years as the Senior Army Instructor in the J.R.O.T.C. program. After his second retirement, in 1995, he and his wife spent 10 years enjoying many trips together in their Lazy Daze R.V.
Ken and his wife have attended Northwest Baptist Church in Leavenworth for many years.
He loved his family; his Alma Mater and he was proud to serve his country. The nickname his wife gave him “Complimentor-in-Chief” was well earned. Ken’s friendliness and his positive attitude were obvious to all who knew him.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2018, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Burial with full military honors will follow at Mt. Muncie Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer’s Disease Research or to honor Ken’s love of music, the family wants to continue funding monthly entertainment at Country Care provided by “Shermie at the Piano” (checks payable to Shermie Wiehe.)
4701 10th Ave.
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Ph: 1-913-351-0200
Cecil Kenneth Simmons
Cecil Kenneth Simmons, 84, of Leavenworth, died, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Easton, Kan., with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born Nov. 4, 1933, in Hillsboro, Texas the son of Cecil Thomas and Mildred Lorraine (Maxwell) Simmons.
On Aug. 3, 1957, Cecil married Marilyn Jean Storey. She survives at the home. He is also survived by a daughter, Laura (Brad) Murray; and two grandchildren, Meghan (Spencer) Alyssa Johnson and Sean Worth Murray.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Cecil Kenneth Simmons, Jr.
He graduated from Texas A & M in May of 1957. After graduating, Kenneth was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in June of 1957, where he served 24 years in the United States Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1981. His military career included two tours in Vietnam both in the Mekong River Delta. From May 1964 to May 1965 he was an advisor to a Vietnamese Infantry Battalion, from Dec. 1970 to July 1972 he served as the Deputy Province Senior Advisor in Dinh Tuong Province. Ken earned a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, a Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit.
He played a role in a historic moment in the year 1962. As commander of Company D, 327th Airborne Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division he deployed from Ft. Campbell, Ky., to Oxford Miss., where his unit helped to quell the riots that erupted when James Meredith attempted to enroll in the all-white University of Mississippi. His last duty assignment was at Ft. Leavenworth where he was an instructor in the Dept. of Tactics at the Command and General Staff College.
After his retirement from active duty he joined the faculty at Benton High School in St. Joseph Mo. for 14 years as the Senior Army Instructor in the J.R.O.T.C. program. After his second retirement, in 1995, he and his wife spent 10 years enjoying many trips together in their Lazy Daze R.V.
Ken and his wife have attended Northwest Baptist Church in Leavenworth for many years.
He loved his family; his Alma Mater and he was proud to serve his country. The nickname his wife gave him “Complimentor-in-Chief” was well earned. Ken’s friendliness and his positive attitude were obvious to all who knew him.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2018, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Burial with full military honors will follow at Mt. Muncie Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer’s Disease Research or to honor Ken’s love of music, the family wants to continue funding monthly entertainment at Country Care provided by “Shermie at the Piano” (checks payable to Shermie Wiehe.)
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