Regina Simmons

CUYAHOGA FALLS - Regina Simmons (nee Lemmons), 90, passed away March 24, 2016. Her physical heart was simply worn out from all the love that had poured from it for 9 decades. She was born in Akron and resided in Cuyahoga Falls for the past 60 years, where she was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church.

Regina graduated from South High School in 1943, where she was editor of the school paper and recipient of the Womanhood award. She was an excellent typist and was hired in the typing pool of Roadway Express due to the recommendation of her high school typing teacher. Because she also excelled in spelling, she later went to work as a medical transcriptionist, a job she loved, at the VA Hospital in Brecksville, where she retired.

Regina promised her Daddy that she would wait until age 21 to marry so after the war, and 20 days after her 21st birthday, on December 24, 1946, she wed the young sailor who had been pursuing her from the age of 13. Reggie and Chic joined a bowling league and were involved with the VFW, where Reggie served on the Women's Auxiliary board. Three years later she started her beloved family with the birth of her son, Jim. This was also the start of the life-long tradition that all holidays would be celebrated at Chic and Reggie's home. Reggie loved traveling with Chic to Masonic Grand Lodge conventions, where they had the best of times with their dear Masonic friends. Upon retirement, she really enjoyed their winter trips to Myrtle Beach, where they golfed and walked the beach.

Regina's main purpose in life, however, was the expression of her unconditional love for her family and others. She had the gift of gab, loved to tell a good joke and never met a stranger. She famously had a one-hour phone conversation with someone who dialed our home number in error. Though she would never purposely lose to them at Uno, all of her grandchildren loved spending the night with her because they knew she would stock her pantry with their favorites. Her specialty was crustless PBandJ. Her favorite color was yellow, which perfectly suited her ever present sunny disposition. She lived the Golden Rule and by the motto "Live and Let Live". Our hearts are broken yet we are so grateful to have been the recipients of such unwavering love for so many years.

Preceded in death her husband, Charles A.; daughter, Luanne Gates; daughter-in-law, Renate Simmons; and sister, Barbara Wimmer; she is survived by her daughter, Monica (Dick) Early; son, James; grandchildren, Morgan Gates, Jason (Rebecca) Simmons, Melissa (Sam) Nixon, Abigail King, Emily Simmons, Richard (Julie) Frantz, Amy (Bryan) Kurtz, Rachel (Robert) Victor, Sarah (Neal) Krakora, Mike (Tanya) Early, Jeremy (Lindsey) Tuber, Michael (Tiffany) Stanley, Justin (Carrie) Gates, Marisa (Tom) Wynne; and 21 great-grandchildren; with twin great-granddaughters on the way; and sister, Patricia Capan.

Friends may call from 4-7 PM on Monday March 28, 2016 in the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home 1930 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221, where a funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday March 29. In lieu of other remembrances memorials may be made to Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, 350 Opportunity Pkwy. Akron, OH, 44307 or the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH, 45250-0301. Services entrusted to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home and Crematory, 330-928-2147.

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