Obituary for Janney John Simmons

Janney "Johnny" Simmons went home to be with the Lord on October 23, 2018 at St. Mary's Medical Center after a long battle with various health problems. A dedicated father and grandfather, one of his greatest pleasures in life was to spend time with his children and grandchildren.

Born July 23, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York to Irving Simmons of New York, New York (a hardware store owner) and Mary Simmons of St. Louis, Missouri (a homemaker). He was a very active child growing up, playing various sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. At the age of 18, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served during the Vietnam War.

After the war, he left New York and made his way to Jacksonville, Florida by way of Miami and West Palm Beach. Janney had worked in construction for 13 years before changing careers and becoming a security officer for various security companies. It is there were he met his wife, Bessie Geneva Simmons (nèe Johnson) in 1990. They shortly got married and by 1994, moved back to her hometown of Gallipolis with his stepson Robert Rippey to raise his family and start a new life.

A graduate of Flagler Career College and Gallipolis Career College, he was employed by Speedway as a gas station attendant and Par Mar as an assistant manager before he retired. He is preceeded in death by his father, mother, 3 older brothers, and his stepdaughter Cheryl Tanner-Rippey. He is survived by his widow, Bessie Geneva Simmons of Gallipolis and his stepsons, Robert Allen Rippey of Gallipolis and Mark Wayne Rippey of San Antonio; his grandchildren Anginette Rippey of Cheshire, Tasha Tanner of Cincinnati, and Jerome Tanner of Bidwell along with several great grandchildren. He will be missed by all that loved him.

Memorial services will be held 1:00 PM. Friday November 2, 2018 at the Waugh-Halley-Wood Funeral Home. Military Honors will be presented by the Gallia County Veterans Funeral Detail. Friends may call at the funeral Home 1 hour prior to services.

An online guest registry is available at waugh-halley-wood.com