Cover photo for Larry Lee Simmons's Obituary
Larry Lee Simmons Profile Photo
1930 Larry 2019

Larry Lee Simmons

December 5, 1930 — July 19, 2019

Larry Lee Simmons passed away July 19, 2019 after a long illness. He is predeceased by his father; James Wilbur Simmons, his mother: Elizabeth (Buff) Simmons, his uncle's; Bill and Allen Gaines, and aunts; Lillian and Francis.
He is survived by his sister; Mrs. Ann Simmons Griffin. He will be missed by her children; James, Dallas, Lisa, and Chris, as we;; as jis great nephews Christopher Griffin (Chris), Grant and Grace Griffin (Dallas). Uncle Larry was a true Southern gentleman as well as a gentle man. He conducted himself with humbleness and grace. Uncle Larry will be missed by all who knew him as he joins his longtime love Jean Sutherland (NYC) in their walk with the Lord.
Larry graduated Greenville High School class of 1950. He attended Furman University for one semester before enlisting in the USAF in 1951. He was stationed at Lackland Airforce Base,TX; Sheppard AFB TX, Parks College of Aeronautical Technology (IL); Chanute Field (IL); Smirna AFB (TN); Portland AFB (OR); Ashia AFB (Japan & Korea); and March AFB (AC).Larry left the Airforce in December of 1954.
Larry continued his education after the Airforce at Clemson University 1955-59, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE). Upon graduation he relocated to California to Northrup Aircraft in Santa Monica to pursue a career in the nation's emerging space program.
He became a California Registered Professional Engineer and at the time of his retirement in 2003, Larry was the Sr. Principal Engineer/ Scientist at Boeing Company (formally McDonnell-Douglas Corp.) in Huntington Beach, CA, specializing in the design of missile/rocket guidance, navigation and control systems. Among his projects were the guidance systems for the space shuttle Enterprise, the Boeing Delta II, Delta III and Delta IV satellite booster/launch rockets. Among his proudest moments were his successful launches of NASA's Martian mission and the Apollo moon landing.
So yes, he was a rocket scientist.
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