Robert Simmons

Robert (Bob) Alvin Simmons, age 94, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, passed from this life on September 12, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his family by his side.

Bob was born on September 12, 1931, in Olive, Oklahoma, to William and Pearl (Browning) Simmons. He married Betty Marie Beaver on September 16, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prior to living in Glenpool, he resided in Hallett, Cleveland, Oklahoma, and California.

Bob proudly served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, he transferred to the Army Reserve in 1953 and later received an additional Honorable Discharge and Certificate as a Testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service on June 28, 1959.

He served faithfully for several years as a deacon and later an elder at the Church of Christ in Cleveland, Oklahoma. For the past 25 years, he was a devoted member of the Glenpool Church of Christ.

Bob retired in 1993 after 29 years at Rockwell International, where he worked in tooling, bonding, and construction. During his time at Rockwell, he contributed to the building of the first Space Shuttle Enterprise for NASA. Throughout his life, Bob also worked in farming, oil field roughnecking, carpentry and home building, and at Rohr Aircraft in Riverside, California, McDonnell Douglas in Downey, California, and Rockwell International in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Outside of work, Bob loved fishing and hunting, often sharing those passions with family and friends. He was an avid reader of the Bible and western novels. Having started farming at a young age, he continued gardening well into his nineties. Always active and happiest outdoors, Bob rarely sat still.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Betty Marie Simmons; children, Roberta Ward and Rebecca Grosh; grandchildren, Jonathan Ward and wife Mechelle, Jennifer Ward, Melissa Grosh, and Megan Primrose and husband Rickey; eleven great-grandchildren, Caleb Ward, Dylan Ward, Brycen Ward, Jessie Tyler Cole, Olivia Cole, Anthony Cole, Addison Primrose, Isaiah Primrose, Judah Primrose, Joshua Primrose, and Eliana Primrose; two great-great-grandchildren, Braxton and Kaiah Ward; and his sister, Marcina Nunley of Florence, Arizona. He is also survived by a large extended family and many friends who will cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Grosh; son-in-law, Johnnie Lee Ward; parents, William and Pearl Simmons; brothers, Tom, Jessie, Bud, Bill, Dock, L.A., and Connie Simmons; and sisters, Hattie Casey, Lenora Babayan, Lorene Simmons, Mary Lou Sullivan, and Flossie Martin.

Funeral services will be held at the Glenpool Church of Christ in Glenpool, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Arrangements are under the care of Schaudt Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service, Glenpool, Oklahoma. Friends and family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bob's memory to:

Tipton Children's Home
1000 North Broadway
Tipton, Oklahoma 73570

Tipton Children's Home