SAUGERTIES: David "Pete" Simmons died on June 4, 2022 at the age of 90. Born April 19, 1932 at home he was the son of Edward J Simmons and Eva (Valk) Terpening and raised by his beloved grandmother, Elizabeth vonGerichten Valk. He was a lifelong resident of Saugerties – he remembered when Barclay Heights was all farmland and his family worked at Cantine Mills. In his younger years, he worked for the Saugerties ambulance service, Alpha cement plant where he sustained a devastating injury then went into farming for a short time, was a jack of all trades – truck driving, welding, heavy equipment operation, then later in life retired from the Ulster County Highway Department. He loved working with his hands and even after retirement enjoyed restoring antique tractors. He was a lifetime member of the Centerville Fire Department.
Survivors include his 3 daughters – Annie and her husband Jeff Peters of Fort Pierce FL, Meg and her husband Rick of Saugerties, Rachel and her husband Barry of Palenville; Roxella's children: Karen Saunders and her husband Arthur of Middletown, PA and Karl Baker and his wife Billynda of Accord.
14 Grandchildren: Jason and his wife Sara of Southport NC, Cassandra and her husband James Bach Jr of Saugerties, Sadie Peters of Fort Pierce FL, Rebecca and Carter Jackson of Saugerties, Marissa, Jessica, Emily and Barry Hill of Palenville, Tristan Saunders and his wife Emily of Middletown PA, Garrett Saunders and his wife Jennifer of Allentown PA, and Abagayle, Wyatt and Lurah Baker of Accord.
4 Great grandchildren: Reed Newkirk of Palenville, Hannah and Tennley Saunders of Middletown PA and Charles Saunders of Allentown PA.
He was predeceased by his wife, Roxella (Baker) Simmons and sister Delores Patsy Kimble.
Viewing will be held on Friday June 10th from 6-8pm at Buono Funeral Service, Inc. in Saugerties. The burial will be a private ceremony. Please offer your condolences for Pete and his family online at www.BuonoFuneralService.com