Don Sims

Born in 1933 in Logansport, Louisiana, he began life in a home with no electricity and fondly recalled riding his horse to high school and the first time he saw a jet crossing the sky.

After graduation from Stanley High School, he joined the navy with his friend John, serving during the Korean War. After leaving the navy he settled in Mobile County and married Barbara Whatley, to whom he was married for fifty-five years. He was a wonderful husband and father.

He worked at Scott Paper Company for thirty years, eventually becoming an assistant division manager, before leaving to be a consultant with Weavex.

A life-long Baptist, he was a member at several area churches including Springhill Baptist Church and, finally, First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores where he and Gail Calma married in 2014. Serving in every imaginable way possible for sixty years, he was known for his calls and visits to people who needed them. He made his final calls to “sick people,” from his hospital bed.

Mr. Sims is survived by his son Mark, Mark’s children, Ethan and Sarah, and daughter-in-law, Debbi; son Alan, his wife Karen, their daughter Jessica and her husband Nathan and their children Kaitlyn and Rowan. He is additionally survived by siblings Helen, Patsy, Skipper, Richard, Mable and Jimmy (and families) and brother-in-law Henry Whatley.

He is also survived by Gail Calma Sims, her children Christy (spouse, Alan), Cindy (spouse, Mark), George and Tammy (spouse, Ronnie), grandchildren Dana, Brittany, Alyssa, Jeremy (spouse, Tiffany), Blake, Joshua, Jason (spouse, Angie) and Jacob (spouse, Megan), great-grandchildren Natalie, Isaiah, Olivia, Tyler, Logan and Reegin.

He is preceded in death by wife Barbara Whatley Sims, sister Doris Seago.

A memorial service will be held at Spring Hill Baptist Church Chapel on Thursday, November 30, 2017, at 1 PM. The family will receive friends at the church from noon until the service hour. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages a donation to the charity of your choice. Please join us in honoring his life of giving by continuing that spirit upon his death. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.