Mr. Kenneth Wayne Simonds, age 87, of East Ridge, Tennessee, died April 8, 2014. On February 27, 1927 in Polk County, Tennessee, Kenneth was the fifth of nine children born of the late Mr. John Robert Simonds and Mrs. Ora Estella Long Simonds.
Kenneth was a veteran of WW II who served with the Eleventh Airborne Division in the Pacific. He was a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a double major in biology and English. He received a masters degree from the University of Georgia in School Counseling and in Administration. He did post graduate work at the University of Virginia in biology with research in fresh water studies; discovering 14 new species of animals commensal with crayfish in the Hiawassee River Drainage System alone. Descriptions of these were published in issues of the Tennessee Academy of Science Journal and in the Museum of Natural History Journal, a publication of Smithsonian.
He retired from public education after 33 years, with all but two of these with the public school system of Fannin County, Georgia. His tenure was equally divided with eleven years each in classroom teaching, counseling and administration. He was twice chosen as Star Teacher, and was honored with the dedication of the 1961 West Fannin High School Yearbook.
Kenneth served many years as a Baptist Sunday School teacher, deacon and choir member. Since living in Chattanooga, he has been a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and was active in It's a Wonderful Life and the Lee Anderson Sunday School class.
He is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Effie Heatherly Simonds; and his siblings: Claude, Lloyd, Ray, Hazel, Shirley and Bobby.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Elizabeth Hudson Simonds; her daughters and sons-in-law, Donna Hudson Moss and Bob, Mary Hudson Hawkins and Mike; grandchildren, Ronald Raulston and Megan, Steve and Kristina Hawkins, and Jeff Hawkins; great-grandchildren, Will, Ben and Kate Raulston, and Dillon and Breanna Hawkins.
He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Beth Simonds; his grandchildren, Krista and Matthew Newton, and Jena Simonds; great-grandsons, Micah, Jonah and Noah Newton; his brother and sister-in-law, Lewis and Liz Simonds, his sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and William Lewis; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 11, at 3:00 pm from the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Reverend Chris Ehlers officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1-3 Friday. Additional services and visitation will be in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Missions Program (554 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402).
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, East Chapel 404 South Moore Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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