UPTON – William H. Simmons, 59, died Sunday, June 15, at his home on Thistle Street in Upton, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Rumford, on May 7, 1949, a son of the late William and F. Grace (Roberts) Simmons Jr. He graduated from Andover High School, Class of 1967.

He worked for Pratt and Whitney and Manchester Bus Co. in Connecticut. He returned to Andover in 1973. He worked in the woods for many years for Robert Akers and Percival Logging.

He loved playing his guitar, family gatherings, reading, western books and watching westerns on TV and gardening and his black lab, Bernard.

He is survived by two sons, William A. Simmons and Gregory Simmons and their mother, Barbara Simmons, all of Andover; his companion, Patricia Kenyon of Upton; sisters, Jeannette Hutchins and her husband, Arthur, of Andover and Carolyn Merrill and her husband, Richard, of Andover; brother, Stephen Simmons and his wife, Cynthia, of East Andover; three grandchildren, Keri Standeven of West Bethel, William T. (Buddy) Simmons of Mexico and Isabella Simmons of Andover; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.