John Hilton Simmons

John Hilton Simmons, 86, of Des Arc passed away May 5, 2013. He was born in Lonoke County, Arkansas on November 8, 1926, the second of three children to Vernon E.Simmons and Betty G. Tarry. He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Marion West Simmons of Des Arc; two sons, Johnny Simmons and wife, Louise of Cabot, and Ronnie Simmons and wife, Kathy of Des Arc; one sister, Melba Stine of Des Arc; four grandchildren and five great-grandsons. John was preceded in death by his parents and his elder sister, Kathleen Harbarth. John was a retired Missionary Baptist minister of sixty-one years, a rice farmer, and an avid woodworking hobbyist. He was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Philippine Liberation and Okinawa Campaigns, and in the occupation of Japan. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church near Hazen, Arkansas with burial at the Hazen Cemetery in Hazen. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, at the Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.