John L. Simmons

John L. Simmons was born on April 15, 1945 in Nottingham, England. Born in a fallout shelter during WWII, John and his mother Gertrude Bradley Simmons sailed over to America on the Queen Mary in 1947. John and his mother joined his father John C. Simmons in Golden Hill, MD. 

John attended schools in South Dorchester and graduated from South Dorchester High School in 1963. While a junior at South Dorchester High School, John won the state championship in shot put. He would later be inducted into the CSDHS Athlete Hall of Fame for this honor. After graduating high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Army. Although he had dreams of being an engineer, his ASVAB results convinced the Army he would be best utilized as an Army combat medic. John proudly served with fellow Americans in Vietnam and returned home in 1967. Although the Army tried to persuade him to stay and attend medical school, John declined and returned to the world of construction. In 1968 John helped build the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and remained there until his retirement in 2014. John was a proud member of the Mid Atlantic Carpenter Council. 

John married the former Bonnie Gay Powley on December 14, 1969. They made their home on Broomes Island and later moved to Toddville, MD. Their marriage produced one child, Heather Dawn. Although John spent most of his time working, but he did find time to garden. He had vegetable gardens on both the Eastern and Western Shores. John was happiest with his shirt off, digging in the garden until after dark and giving away his bounty of vegetables to family, friends and strangers.

John is survived by his daughter Heather Sedwick, brothers Russell and Eddie, his sisters Sandy Simmons, Marie (Sonny) Ruark, Barbara Willey, Carol Crue, Margaret Robinson and Lisa Blann and two godchildren, Dawn Rogers and Justin Aaron. He is also survived by a special cousin Glenna Toyne and family of Ruthin, Wales, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and great great nieces. John is preceded in death by his parents, John and Gertrude Simmons, a brother James (Jimmy) Simmons, a nephew and godson Chuck Ruark and a son in law Chris Sedwick.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery at 12 PM. A visitation will be held the same day at Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. from 10AM to 11AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Courageous Hearts Horsemanship, 6836 East New Market Ellwood Road, Hurlock, MD 21643 or Hooper’s Island Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 125, Fishing Creek, MD 21634.