1918 – 2014

TOGUS — Milton George Simmons, 95, died on Monday, Jan. 13, at the Veterans’ Hospital in Togus, following a brief illness. Milt won’t sit on the riverbank anymore. He won’t tell any more fisherman’s tales. He won’t cast his fly again and though his creel may be empty, our eyes today are filled with tears. Christ, as we know, called the fishermen to follow him; today he has one of the best.

He was born in Kingfield on Sept. 6, 1918, the son of Clyde and Ivy (Pinkham) Simmons. He was educated in the Kingfield schools and graduated in the Class of 1937.

Milt served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1942-46, being stationed in Texas and in the European theater, where he participated in the battles at Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and central Europe. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon. Milt was employed at Winters Mill in Kingfield and Forster Manufacturing, retiring in 1979.

He enjoyed fly-fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. Milt was an avid fan of the Red Sox and local high school sports teams.

Milt is survived by his two sons, Lee Simmons and wife, Val, of Readfield and Mike Simmons and wife, Nancy, of New Sharon; his two daughters, Candy Clark and partner, Bud Philbrick, of Strong and Lesa Tompkins and partner, Brian James, of Strong; his sister, Phyllis Dodge of Kingfield; six grandchildren, Jason Simmons of Readfield, Deanna Farrell of Sanford, Danielle Simmons of Augusta, Douglas Simmons of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tanya Huff of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Tyler Tompkins of Boston, Mass.; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.