HENRY E. SIMMONS, Port Orange, born in Richards, TX on August 8, 1921, passed away on March 23, 2017 at Halifax Health Hospice, Ormond Beach. A Memorial service in his honor will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday April 18, 2017 at the Cardwell Baggett & Summers funeral home. He was brought to Florida at the age of six months by his parents, Henry F and Esther Ella Simmons, both of whom served in World War I. His mother was a registered nurse and served on the Mexican border where his father was assigned to the U.S. Calvary. His family settled in the Daytona Beach area where they operated a grocery store and restaurant at 816 N. Beach St. until being forced out of business due to economic problems in 1929. They moved to Holly Hill in the 300 block of N. Ridgewood Ave. which was a dirt road at that time and later became US 1 where he lived with his family until enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in April 1942. Henry wrote a book entitled "growing Up in the Halifax area 1923 - 1942, giving a first person account of the numerous challenges presented to his family and others in the Halifax are during the great depression. Henry graduated Mainland High School in 1939; was employed by Southern Bell Tel & Tel Co., Daytona Beach, FL in 1940; Henry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in April 1942 and graduated Advanced Pilot Training March 25, 1943 in Marianna, FL, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Army Air Corp. Henry served in China Burma India Theater of War, flying war material from India over the Himalayas into various points in China and Burma in an attempt to keep China in the war against the Japanese, and completed 77 missions and attained the rank of Captain; commissioned honorary Captain in Chinese Air Force for outstanding service to China, and was awarded the Chinese Freedom Medal. He returned to work with Southern Bell upon termination of hostilities. Henry accepted assignment in the Air Force Reserve and was recalled to active duty as a pilot during the Korean Conflict, then discharged upon termination of hostilities. Once again he returned to previous civilian employment and was promoted to management. He received the following Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Cluster, 4 Bronze Service Stars; Ribbons: Asiatic Pacific Theater, World War II Victory, American Defense. He retired December 31, 1983 from Bell South after accumulation 43 years of service. Henry was fond of fishing, oil painting, and hunting. Many days were spent enjoying the lakes, rivers, and woodland of Florida. He also enjoyed playing cards, poker, bridge, chess, reading-primarily historical writings. Henry also invented, patented and successfully marketed a devise to assist those persons with limited range of motion to put on and remove their socks (Simmons Sock Genie).He was a member of the Halifax Masonic Lodge 81 for over 61 years; life member of Hump Pilots Assoc. (now defunct due to attrition); life member of VFW Post 3282, Port Orange, FL; served on Ponce DeLeon Port Authority; and a member of Volusia County Skeet and Trap Club. Survivors include son, Bruce C. Simmons, Ocala FL; daughter Ann S. Drawdy, Daytona Beach; grandson Michael D. Drawdy, Tucson, AZ; Sister Mary Jo Stansfield, New Smyrna Beach. In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Salvation Army and Halifax Health Hospice.