More detail on this person: Unit(s): MAG-16
(65-66)Branch of Service: MCColonel ROBERT
LYSTER SIMMONS USMC (Retired) Colonel Robert
Lyster Simmons, USMC Retired, formerly of
Arlington, Virginia, passed away Friday, May 5,
2017 in Austin, Texas. He was born March 13,
1922, in Highland Park, Illinois to the late
Lyster Francis and Laura Porter Simmons. He
leaves behind daughter Jill (John) Graff of
Austin, TX, grandchildren Laura (Beth) Short and
great-granddaughter Ada of Arlington, VA, and
Chris (Emily) Graff, and great-grandson Arthur and
great-granddaughter Alice Graff of Auburn, AL. He
was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68
years, Gloria Marcella VanDeventer Simmons, his
son, Brook Simmons, and sister Lela Simmons
Bell. As a boy, Bob bred and raced pigeons. It
seemed that he was destined to fly himself. So
much so that he once sleepwalked to the stairs and
jumped off. He represented Missouri during the
first National Boy Scout Jamboree in DC and played
the trombone in the band without knowing how to
read music. In the 6th grade, he met a cute girl
that he nicknamed "Shortie Bottoms". "I liked her
shape," he said. In his rebuilt and colorfully
painted 1927 Chevy convertible named Measles,
they went on many dates during high school. At
long last, Bob flew his Marine plane to NYC
because Shortie wanted a Tiffany-setting on her
wedding ring. He served in the Marine Corps during
WWWII as a photo pilot in the South Pacific. He
continued as a photo pilot in Korea photographing
the initial overrun of the Chosin Reservoir. After
serving in Korea, he began to work with
helicopters and continued to do so into Viet Nam.
He retired from the Corps after 32 years having
been stationed during the non-war years in North
Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii, Japan, California,
Kansas and Okinawa. After settling in Arlington,
Bob joined the First Christian Church in Falls
Church (Disciples of Christ) where he found a
second family. At the church, he served as deacon,
leader, and pillar of the church's community. He
was a loving father, a natural leader, and a kind
man. A celebration of his life will be held at his
church on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 2 p.m. Burial
will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later
date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be
made to First Christian Church of Falls Church,
6165 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044.
www.everlycommunity.comwww.everlycommunity.c
om
- S. G. Williams Added: May. 12, 2017
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/12/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association