Cecil Irvin Simonton's Obituary
Cecil Irvin Simonton, age 100, of Rogers, Arkansas and formerly of Ottumwa, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on September 26, 2024. He was recently preceded in death by Eleanor Florence Simonton, his loving wife of 77 ½ years.
He was born February 23, 1924, in Guthrie, OK, to Berl Cecil Simonton and Edith Maude Evans Simonton. Cecil married Eleanor F. Richards on December 28, 1946.
Cecil’s early years were spent in Oklahoma where his father was a Railroad Station Agent. At the age of 8, during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, his family moved to a rural Kansas farm with no electricity or running water. He graduated from High School and attended college for engineering one semester before volunteering for the Army. Cecil’s WWII training kept him stateside until he was stationed for six months in Canada for radar operations training. He was often invited to Sunday dinner by local church families. At one such meal he saw a picture on the piano of the host’s niece, and he was instantly smitten by Eleanor’s picture. They met, dated, and once he was discharged, they were married.
While in the Army Air Corp, God called Cecil to the ministry; and for the remainder of his life, he exemplified the Christian faith. He attended Phillips University and seminary where he graduated 1952. The same year he started his career as a pastor with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. He performed hundreds of weddings, funerals, baptisms, sermons, and served as Church Camp counselor and Director at summer camps. He led four different congregations, culminating in the move to Davis Street Christian church in Ottumwa, IA in 1964. Cecil retired from the pastorate in 1989, after 37 years.
Cecil had a terrific sense of humor and passed that onto his sons and family. He greatly enjoyed collecting (model trains, coffee cups, hats, coins, stamps, you name it), gardening, sailing, camping, and family time. His faithful support of U.S. and Canadian family visits and reunions fostered a unique closeness of many relatives. Cecil taught his sons the value of work, education, and saving money. He was very creative, fashioning solutions from every day items. He was known for his inventions and creativity. As the family grew, he twice made unique camping trailers built on the frame of a trailer used during his married college years.
Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Berl and Edith Simonton, his wife Eleanor, a granddaughter Stacie Simonton Timmer, and an infant great grandson. He is survived by five sons: Wayne (Kristin) of Rogers, Arkansas; David (Ingrid) of Mt. Airy, Maryland; Tim (Susan) of Urbandale, Iowa; Tom (Neta) of McHenry, Illinois; and James (Kammy) of Columbus, Indiana. He is also survived by his sister Genevieve Collins of Topeka, Kansas. Cecil leaves behind a legacy carried on by his 22 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. All will forever cherish his memory.
A memorial service for Cecil and Eleanor will be Friday, October 11, 10:30 am at First Christian Church, Rogers, Arkansas. Their Inurnment will be in the columbarium at First Christian Church, following the memorial service. Memorial gifts may be made to the Samaritan’s Purse Ministry in Cecil and Eleanor’s name.
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