COLUMBUS – Ralph B. Simons Sr., 80, of County Rt. 25, passed away Monday, Aug. 4, 2008 at his home.
He was born March 3, 1928 in Smyrna, a son of Ralph M. and Florence Barber Simons, and was a graduate of Sherburne High School. On Feb. 7, 1948, Ralph married Lillian Aiken in Norwich, a union that lasted 56 years until she predeceased him on Jan. 24, 2005. The family farm in Smyrna, which was a revolutionary war land grant, was operated by Ralph and his brother Kenneth, until November 1985, and given the Century Farm Award. Following his retirement from farming, Ralph moved to Columbus where he served as Town Justice for 20 years, retiring from that position in 2007. He had worked for Research, Conservation and Development for 4 years where he ran the no-till corn program. He also worked as Code Enforcement Officer for Atlantic Inland for 2 years, the Town of Columbus for 20 years, and the Village of Sidney for 14 years. Ralph’s favorite pastimes were hunting, fishing and reading. He loved spending time with his family and friends who always enjoyed hearing him tell his many jokes.
Ralph was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Smyrna. He was a member of the Smyrna Volunteer Fire Department and the Smyrna Emergency Squad; a founding member of the Southern Tier Building Officials Assoc.; a member and former chairman of the Chenango County ASCS Committee; and a member of the Chenango County Magistrates Assoc.
Surviving are his two daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and John Coates of New Haven; Katherine and Jack Winton of Columbus; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Steven and Sherry Simons, Michael and Karen Simons, and Jared Simons, all of Columbus; Ralph B., Jr. and Jennifer Simons of New Berlin; a sister, Dorothy Simons Blanchard of Cicero, formerly of Edmeston; a step-brother, Stanley Peckham of Smyrna; 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Kenneth and Donald Simons, a sister, Alice Simons Endries, and a great-granddaughter, Abilgail Simons.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the First United Methodist Church, Smyrna, followed by burial in West Hill Cemetery, Sherburne.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church, c/o Barbara Parry, Treas., 321 Cty. Rd. 20, Sherburne, NY 13460; the New Berlin Emergency Squad, New Berlin, NY, 13411; or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.