OBITUARY: George Clifford Sims
Clifford Sims, age 88, of Harrisburg passed away at 9:37 a.m., Aug. 31, 2012, at Fountainview Nursing Home in Eldorado.
He was born on April 16, 1924, in Dykersburg, son of Floyd and Ella (Neely) Sims. He married the former Lona Jane Walker of Carbondale on June 20, 1953, in Carbondale.
Clifford attended high school at Crab Orchard, and after graduation he went to Southern Illinois University for two years before he was inducted into the United States Army Air Force for three years. After he was discharged he went back to Southern Illinois University for another year. Clifford then went to Peoria and worked at Keystone Steel and Wire for three years. After marriage he returned to Marion and worked for Williamson County Farm Bureau then went to Giles Electric. He left there in 1965 and went to work for Sahara Coal in the Electric Shop until retirement in 1988.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served for about 46 years as a Deacon. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 325 of Harrisburg and the American Legion of Thompsonville and Valley of Evansville Lodge.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jane Sims; son, David Sims; and wife Ami Jo of East Alton; daughter, Sheila Howland and husband Tom of Bethalto; three grandsons, Bradley Sims, A.J. Sims, and Chad Howland; one granddaughter, Caitlin Sims; six great-granddaughters; sister-in-laws, Violet Jane Sims of Dykersburg and Beverly Walker of Carbondale; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Hugh Sims; one granddaughter, Jennifer Howland; and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Harrisburg. The Rev. Chris Winkleman will officiate and burial will follow in Coal Bank Springs Cemetery. Military gravesite rites will be conducted by the Thompsonville American Legion. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Masonic rites will be conducted by the Harrisburg Masonic Lodge at 7 p.m. Sept. 2, 2012. Condolences may be sent to the family through the obituary page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com.