SIMMS, Miriam 1909-2005

SIMMS, SPAULDING, TOWNE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/11/2015 at 08:33:16

Miriam Simms, 96, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Monday, November 14, 2005, at Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad, Iowa. Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, November 15, 2005, at First Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, Iowa, with Pastor Dan Graham officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Visitation will be held Monday, November 14, 2005, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. A memorial fund has been established.

Miriam was born November 5, 1909 in Grinnell, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest Heywood and Irma (Towne) Spaulding. Miriam graduated from Grinnell College in 1932 with a degree in journalism. On September 11, 1937 Miriam was united in marriage to Edwin Fay Smith, Jr. in the Ernest Spaulding home, a landmark in Grinnell. Prior to her marriage to Edwin, Miriam worked in Des Moines, Iowa. On November 27, 1976, Miriam was united in marriage to Edward Kerr Simms. The couple lived on the Simms' Century Farm south of Grundy Center. Miriam moved to Oakview Nursing home in Conrad, Iowa on December 7, 1993. Miriam was active in P.E.O., Theta Sigma Phi journalism fraternity, and the First Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. Miriam's interests were in lifetime friendships and "incessant" correspondence, freshwater swimming, and ballroom dancing.

She is survived by her two daughters, Linda and her husband Larry Wilcoxson of Atkinson, Nebraska, and Susan and her husband Wayman Starnes of St. Louis County, Missouri; one son, Edwin Smith of Lemay, Missouri; one step-daughter, Caroline and her husband Jim Hendrickson of Stockbridge, Georgia; two step-sons, Tom and Sandy Simms of Grundy Center, Iowa, and Louis Simms of Beaman, Iowa; a step daughter in law Carol Simms of Grundy Center, Iowa; Seven grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; twelve step-great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and one sister-in-law, Clara May Bliss of Des Moines, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edward K. Simms; twin children, Mark and Michele Smith; and step-son Jed Simms.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)