Rev. Ronald A. Simmons

Rev. Ronald A. Simmons, 75, of Arnold went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Thursday, November 17, 2022, after his hard-fought battle with lung cancer. Born on July 15, 1947, in Charleston, SC, Rev. Simmons lived most of his young life in Savannah, GA. He attended the St. Luke Baptist Church where he answered the call to salvation at the age of six. There, he served in the Youth Choir, Sunday School, and church-sponsored Boy Scouts.

After several semesters at Savannah State College, he enlisted in the United States Air Force at the height of the Vietnam War, serving honorably for four years. Still wanting to serve his country, he joined the Army Reserves as a Surveyor. In 2009, he retired from PPG in Creighton after 30 years of service.

Rev. Simmons served for decades at the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in New Kensington as a baritone/tenor and director of the choir, Sunday School and Bible Study teacher, trustee, and Associate Minister. He was the Layman’s Vice President of the AUBA – Kiski Area for six years. For the past three years, Reverend Simmons continued to serve the Lord at The Rodman Street Baptist Church (“the Street) where he was an Associate Minister, praise team member, and new members class teacher.

A true Man of God, Reverend Simmons had a heart for people and proved it by his community ministries. He shared cookies and popsicles with the children in the neighborhood, fostered many children in the home with the love of his life, delivered Communion to the sick and shut-in, drove friends and family to work, and taught youngsters to repair their bicycles.

Reverend Simmons is survived by his devoted wife Jackie of 36 years, his loving siblings Eula McMillan (Bee) and Richard L. Simmons (Pauline) of New Kensington, sons Jeffrey, Larry, Lawrence, and Joshua Simmons, and Trashawn Reid; daughters Rosetta and Tracy Johnson; 11 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; five nephews; two nieces; two great-nephews; five great-nieces; an uncle Judge Earl Fields (who is 102) of Charleston, SC;  a brother-in-law Rev. Dr. Asa W. Roberts, Jr. (Cherise); a sister-in-law Cynthia Rodgers (Jeannie); two Goddaughters; a host of cousins, and many more who loved him. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Elizabeth Simmons, his grandmother Lucille Cook, and brother Wayne Simmons.

The family will honor his life as they receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, November 30, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. at ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME LTD., 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington, (724-335-1234). Remarks may be expressed between 3 – 4 and 7 – 8. The homecoming service is on Thursday, December 1, at 11 am at The Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman Street, Pittsburgh, 15206 with the Rev. Dr. Darryl T. Canady officiating. Interment with military honors at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies military cemetery will happen at a later date. 

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