NWA/DL Capt. Carl Richard Simmons Sr.

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, NWA/DL Capt. Carl Richard Simmons Sr.

May 3, 1938 - January 29, 2021

 

Tragic news comes to us by way of the RNPA/Retired Northwest Pilots group…..friends learned that Captain Simmons sadly lost his life as a result of being struck by a car while out walking in the Alabama community where he and his wife Marilyn winter.  Captain Simmons was 82 years of age and is survived by his wife Marilyn, his sons and his grandchildren. 

Captain Simmons joined Northwest Airlines 02-27-1967, retired and then again was with Northwest/Delta Air Lines as a simulator instructor and check pilot. 

Obituary information is available below and share your memories online at

 https://www.gearty-delmore.com/obituary/carl-simmons 

For those who may wish to send a personal note, perhaps the best address would be their Minnesota residence at

1315 Riverside Lane,  Mendota Heights, MN 55118.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

Obituary :  Carl Richard Simmons, Sr. passed away unexpectedly on January 29, 2021 in Orange Beach, Alabama at the age of 82.

 

He was born 3 May, 1938 in Hannibal, Missouri and was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Burk Simmons and Mary Elizabeth Montgomery Simmons of Monroe City, MO.

 

Carl is survived by his wife of 52 glorious years, Marilyn “Meme” and two sons, Christopher (Jane), of St. Paul, MN. and Carl, Jr. “Charlie” (Sandy LaMendola), also of St. Paul, his four grandchildren, (Natalie, Olivia, Alexander and Marcus) and two step-grandchildren, (Natalie and Zachary) who all were the light of his long life, his brother Ed Simmons (Angela), his sister Sue Thomas (John), and many nieces and nephews.

 

Carl graduated from Holy Rosary High School in Monroe City, MO. in 1956. He was active in the local community and in the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout. Soon after finishing high school, he left for Columbia, MO. and the University of Missouri where he received degrees in Civil Engineering, Astronomy and Mathematics.  He completed 4 years of Air Force ROTC and reached the rank of Cadet Colonel.  Upon graduation he was commissioned a 2nd LT. in the USAF.

 

After graduation, Carl worked for the Boeing Airplane Co., in Seattle, Washington until he entered active duty in June, 1961 at Williams AFB, Arizona.

 

At Williams AFB, he began undergraduate pilot training and earned his wings in June, 1962.  From Arizona he went to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma to Advanced Multi-Engine Pilot Training. In December, 1962 he left the States for a two year assignment to Yokota AB, Japan (Tokyo).  While in Japan, he flew reconnaissance aircraft within the entire Far-East Theatre, protecting the country he loved so dearly.

 

Carl returned to the States in December 1964, and was assigned to Vance AFB, Oklahoma as an Instructor Pilot in the USAF Pilot Training Program. He left the Air Force in 21 January, 1967 with the rank of Captain, and took a job as a pilot with Northwest Airlines (NWA). In 1983 he checked out as Captain on the B-727, and later served as Captain on a number of aircraft in the Northwest fleet.  In his 31 years at NWA, he served as an Instructor Pilot on the following airplanes: B-727, B-757/767, DC-10, & B-747-400.

 

In the summer of 1968, while on a trip to Miami, Florida, Carl met the love of his life, a Northwest stewardess by the name Marilyn McKusick of Olivia, Minnesota. They were married on 31 May, 1969.

 

From 1969 to 1994, they made Minnesota home, living first in West St. Paul, then moving to Highland Park in Saint Paul.  In 1993, he and his wife moved from Saint Paul, to Flat Rock, North Carolina with dear friend and fellow NWA pilot, Dick Dodge and his wife Gale. Carl retired from Northwest Airlines in May 1998, but remained active within the aviation community with his many friends and fellow retired pilots.

 

In November 2005, Carl and Meme moved back to Minnesota to be closer to their family and growing number of grandchildren.

 

Carl’s relentless work ethic and love of flying saw him retire and “unretire”, as he called it, three times over the next 15 years, working again for NWA and then Delta Airlines as a simulator instructor and check pilot, ushering in the next generation of 747-400 captains. He flew for the final time in June 2013 after reaching the age of 75.

 

Among his numerous professional accolades over his 51 years of flying, Carl was most proud of the Superior Airmanship Award he received in 1986 from the Airline Pilots Association for preventing a catastrophic accident immediately after takeoff when two of three engines failed on his aircraft. He and his crew successfully maneuvered his plan to a safe landing, preserving all souls on board.

 

During his retirement(s), Carl enjoyed playing golf with his wife and friends, researching family history, designing and building stained glass windows, and acting as a Docent- giving historical tours at the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Church St. Peter. His last, and most recent, passion was as a member of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem where he achieved the rank of “Knight Commander”.

 

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Peter, 1405 Sibley Memorial Hwy. 13, Mendota, MN. 55150, on Friday, February 12 at 11:00 AM. The funeral will be live-streamed via Facebook at https://msngr.com/rrruaxoafadn “Carl Simmons Funeral”.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Cathedral Heritage Fund, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN. 55012, or the memorial of your choice.