Obituary of Dolores R. Simmons

Dolores Simmons passed away peacefully August 8 at age 100. She was born November 19, 1920 in Beach Lake, first child of Ralph and Lola Van Gorder. Dolores began her academic life at the one-room Berlin Township school, then graduated from Honesdale High School. She was the first Van Gorder to go to college, graduating from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College before getting her Masters degree at Penn State, where she met her husband, Dr. Thomas Simmons. Dolores enjoyed a long career in education, teaching physical education at Slippery Rock State Teachers College and later at Edgewood High School in Harford County, Maryland. Her personal lesson to her students was that they could be both athletic and a lady at the same time. She coached field hockey and basketball, and introduced a modern dance program at the high school. By example, her message to her extended family was that they should be aware of and thankful for the small daily blessings in life. She lived through the Great Depression. "We were poor. But we never knew it." Dolores played the trumpet and enjoyed oil-painting landscapes. After her long teaching career, she and her husband "Bucky" enjoyed extensive travel--to six continents. Mrs. Simmons was predeceased by her husband, her sister Phyllis Wansor, and her brothers Donald and Duane Van Gorder.She is survived by nieces and nephews. Dolores' family would like to thank Bethany Village for providing a home for several years, and Ellen Memorial for the final weeks of care. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Dolores was an ardent conservationist and memorial donations should be directed to The Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, 571 Perkin's Pond Road, Beach Lake, PA. 18405.