Willis E. Simms
A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park for Willis Edwin Simms, 86, of Los Angeles. He died Feb. 16, 2009 of cancer at his home.
Born Oct. 6, 1922 in Ceres to Polly and Walker Simms, Willis graduated from Ceres High School and then went on to earn an associate degree in Engineering from Modesto Junior College. During World War II Mr. Simms earned a MS in Meteorology from Cal Tech as a cadet in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed on Hawaii and Johnston Atoll. After the war, Willis earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles. In 1953, he married Melba Kallmann and raised two daughters in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Simms taught art and animation in the Los Angeles public schools. The films created by his animation classes frequently won awards at film festivals. His environmental cartoons for the Sierra Club are being compiled into a book, "Bulldozer in Paradise," available soon on lulu.com. He also enjoyed painting.
In retirement Mr. Simms became active in SANE/Nuclear Freeze and the Sierra Club. For years, he produced, published and distributed the "Sundays in the Santa Monicas" hike schedule. As Conservation Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter, Willis led letter-writing campaigns and hikes.
He leaves behind his wife, Melba Simms of Los Angeles; his daughters, Ellen Colton of Berkeley, and Laura Capman; and two grand-daughters, Emeline Capman and Nyssa Capman, both of Minneapolis, MN.
Remembrances may be sent to the Sierra Club or the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 1, 2009
A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park for Willis Edwin Simms, 86, of Los Angeles. He died Feb. 16, 2009 of cancer at his home.
Born Oct. 6, 1922 in Ceres to Polly and Walker Simms, Willis graduated from Ceres High School and then went on to earn an associate degree in Engineering from Modesto Junior College. During World War II Mr. Simms earned a MS in Meteorology from Cal Tech as a cadet in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed on Hawaii and Johnston Atoll. After the war, Willis earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles. In 1953, he married Melba Kallmann and raised two daughters in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Simms taught art and animation in the Los Angeles public schools. The films created by his animation classes frequently won awards at film festivals. His environmental cartoons for the Sierra Club are being compiled into a book, "Bulldozer in Paradise," available soon on lulu.com. He also enjoyed painting.
In retirement Mr. Simms became active in SANE/Nuclear Freeze and the Sierra Club. For years, he produced, published and distributed the "Sundays in the Santa Monicas" hike schedule. As Conservation Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter, Willis led letter-writing campaigns and hikes.
He leaves behind his wife, Melba Simms of Los Angeles; his daughters, Ellen Colton of Berkeley, and Laura Capman; and two grand-daughters, Emeline Capman and Nyssa Capman, both of Minneapolis, MN.
Remembrances may be sent to the Sierra Club or the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 1, 2009
A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park for Willis Edwin Simms, 86, of Los Angeles. He died Feb. 16, 2009 of cancer at his home.
Born Oct. 6, 1922 in Ceres to Polly and Walker Simms, Willis graduated from Ceres High School and then went on to earn an associate degree in Engineering from Modesto Junior College. During World War II Mr. Simms earned a MS in Meteorology from Cal Tech as a cadet in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed on Hawaii and Johnston Atoll. After the war, Willis earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles. In 1953, he married Melba Kallmann and raised two daughters in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Simms taught art and animation in the Los Angeles public schools. The films created by his animation classes frequently won awards at film festivals. His environmental cartoons for the Sierra Club are being compiled into a book, "Bulldozer in Paradise," available soon on lulu.com. He also enjoyed painting.
In retirement Mr. Simms became active in SANE/Nuclear Freeze and the Sierra Club. For years, he produced, published and distributed the "Sundays in the Santa Monicas" hike schedule. As Conservation Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter, Willis led letter-writing campaigns and hikes.
He leaves behind his wife, Melba Simms of Los Angeles; his daughters, Ellen Colton of Berkeley, and Laura Capman; and two grand-daughters, Emeline Capman and Nyssa Capman, both of Minneapolis, MN.
Remembrances may be sent to the Sierra Club or the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 1, 2009
A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park for Willis Edwin Simms, 86, of Los Angeles. He died Feb. 16, 2009 of cancer at his home.
Born Oct. 6, 1922 in Ceres to Polly and Walker Simms, Willis graduated from Ceres High School and then went on to earn an associate degree in Engineering from Modesto Junior College. During World War II Mr. Simms earned a MS in Meteorology from Cal Tech as a cadet in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed on Hawaii and Johnston Atoll. After the war, Willis earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles. In 1953, he married Melba Kallmann and raised two daughters in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Simms taught art and animation in the Los Angeles public schools. The films created by his animation classes frequently won awards at film festivals. His environmental cartoons for the Sierra Club are being compiled into a book, "Bulldozer in Paradise," available soon on lulu.com. He also enjoyed painting.
In retirement Mr. Simms became active in SANE/Nuclear Freeze and the Sierra Club. For years, he produced, published and distributed the "Sundays in the Santa Monicas" hike schedule. As Conservation Chair of the local Sierra Club chapter, Willis led letter-writing campaigns and hikes.
He leaves behind his wife, Melba Simms of Los Angeles; his daughters, Ellen Colton of Berkeley, and Laura Capman; and two grand-daughters, Emeline Capman and Nyssa Capman, both of Minneapolis, MN.
Remembrances may be sent to the Sierra Club or the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /April 1, 2009
