Oscar L Sims

Oscar Lewis Sims was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, June 23, 1925. He was the son of Oscar Artie Sims and Olive Viola Ford, both deceased. He survived his only sibling, younger brother Gerald Edward Sims, Sr. who passed away on June 25, 2012. He leaves behind three nieces, one nephew, great and great-great nieces and nephews, many cousins, a Godson, Goddaughter and a countless number of wonderful lifetime friends.

At Age 15, Oscar played Piano and sang in the Senior Choir at Mt. Rose Baptist Church. Oscar graduated from Uniontown Senior High School in the summer of 1943.

He then joined the US Army during WWII (September 17, 1943 — February 12, 1946). After his training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona Oscar was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the “Buffalo Division”, which was a part of the 5th Army that served in the Italian Theater during World War II. It was the only infantry unit comprised entirely of African Americans, or, as they were referred to at the time – Colored Troops, to see combat in Europe.

After the war, Oscar attended Howard University (1946-1949) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology.

Following his graduation, Oscar spent a lot of time visiting New York and Washington D.C. where he loved to listen to Jazz and Big Band Music. He was frequently seen in the company of famous singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Hadda Brooks.

In 1965 Oscar went to work at UCLA as a Paraprofessional in the libraries which inspired him to further his education. He earned his MLS degree from UCLA in 1970 and was appointed UCLA Social Sciences Bibliographer (hired on 03/30/1970 and retired effective10/01/1990). While at UCLA he also served on the Executive Board of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). At Fisk University, Oscar attended an Institute on Building Collections of Black Literature in 1971 and completed an internship in Black Studies Librarianship at Fisk University in 1973. In addition to BCALA, Oscar was a member of the American Library Association, the Association for College and Research Libraries, the California Librarians Black Caucus, and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. On October 1, 1990, UCLA awarded Oscar “Emeritus” status, an honorific title conferred upon retired professionals who have distinguished themselves during the course of their careers.

Shortly after Oscar retired from UCLA in 1990, he moved to Henderson, NV. One of the first things he did was join the African American Advisory Board to the Henderson Police Department where he met monthly with the Chief of Police to report on important community issues regarding diversity.

In addition to community service, Oscar loved to travel. His favorite means of globe-trotting was aboard the cruise ship Queen Mary 2. Some of the many places he traveled were China, Mediterranean Asia, London, Paris, Amsterdam, South America, Dubai, Thailand, and South Africa. His other love was his 1965 Pontiac “Hazel”.

Oscar was an inspiration to all who knew him. He always had a smile on his face and there was nothing he liked better than an interesting conversation with a good friend. Oscar will be forever missed but never forgotten. He passed quietly in his sleep on October 9th, 2016. He will be buried at the Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada on Tuesday, December 6th, 2016. May he Rest in Peace.

“Feel no guilt in laughter; he’d know how much you care.

Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.

You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.

He’d hope that you could carry on the way you always do.

So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,

The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.

Let memories surround you, a word someone may say

Will suddenly re-capture a time, an hour a day,

That brings him back so clearly as though he were still here,

And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.

For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart

And he will live forever locked safely in your heart.”

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