Floyd Edwin Simmons Sr. went to be with his lord at the age of 90. He was born July 28, 1920 in Oakland, California to parents Benjamin Gustave Simmons and Christina Caruthers Simmons. He was raised in Oakland and graduated from Oakland High School.

Floyd got into country music at a very early age with his brother Sewell and his twin Lloyd. Then after he began playing string bass which became his favorite instrument; enjoying it all the days of his life.

Jesus Christ came into his life when he was 14 and remained important to his life, giving him peace, especially in his later years. In his thirties he and two other young men formed "The Three Deacons" enjoying a twenty-year ministry in Christian country type music which involved prison ministry.

Floyd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 becoming a radio operator and top turret gunner in B24 Photo Reconnaissance. He worked for 29 years with Pacific Telephone in toll transmission and TV network transmission.

He married Joy Aiken in 1944 and Floyd,Jr. was born in 1945. He lost Joy, his wife, to cancer and remarried to Katie Lowman, lost her 5 years later to cancer, and married his present wife Vera Passmore. He felt blessed by having had three wonderful and loving Christian wives in his life.

Floyd loved to Square Dance - belonging to The Valley Whirlers and it was at a square dance in Santa Maria that he met Vera. Traveling across the country in his Airstream trailer to visit family and friends was another passion of his.

He was preceded in death by his sister Hazel and twin brother Lloyd. He is survived by his wife, Vera Simmons, his brother, Sewel and sister Mary Brown. Also, his son Floyd Jr. and wife Barbara, two grandchildren, Dr. Jonathan Simmons and Rachel Stout and seven great-grandchildren: Madison, McKenzie and Matthew Simmons and Hunter, Ariana, Kailah and Cole Stout.

A memorial service will be held Saturday September 4th 2010 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 624 E. Camino Colegio in Santa Maria at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Emeritus Rev. Jerry Trelstad will officiate. It was here at Bethel that Floyd worshipped and played the music he loved with the Praise Music Team. In lieu of flowers a donation could be made to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County at 490 West Foster Road, Santa Maria, California or Bethel Bible Fund.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.