Celebrating the Life of Victor William Simmons, Jr. August 22, 1947 to March 17, 2016 Victor William Simmons, Jr., 68, passed away peacefully at home in his wife's arms on March 17, 2016 after a short illness. God needed him in heaven. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gail, his father Victor William, his mother Ivy, his brothers Pete and Jim, and his nephew Peter Anthony. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Trina), sons Mark, Travis and Jeremy, Mark's wife, Cathy, brothers John and Will, sisters-in-law Christina and Debbie, sisters Jean and Grace, brother-in-law Kurt, grandchildren Gail, Jesse, Austin, Connor, Kaitlyn, and Brayden, nieces, nephews, and their children, and his beloved Doberman, Jupiter and cockatiel Cinnamon. Vic was born August 22, 1947 at Naval Hospital, San Diego to Victor William and Ivy Viser Simmons. He lived in San Diego his entire life. His home is two miles from the home he grew up in with his parents and six siblings. He graduated from Grossmont High School and married his high school sweetheart. He went to work as a machinist to support his wife and his two sons, Mark and Travis. Throughout his life Vic was active in sports including baseball, football, skiing, swimming, walking his dog, and golf. He was a natural athlete. He excelled in all athletic endeavors and was a genius at fixing anything. In 1979 Victor married Catherine (Trina) Gloor Simmons, who was his wife and loving partner for 37 years. Soon after their marriage they purchased the home where they lived throughout their marriage. He was adamant about buying a house in Fletcher Hills so that his children could attend Grossmont High School where he and his siblings attended. In 1982 Vic and Trina welcomed a third son, Jeremy. Vic supported his wife when she returned to college to become an RN, and took many college courses with her as she completed prerequisites. Vic and Trina also took coursework in Real Estate. We both sat for the Real Estate exam. Vic passed the test, and received his Real Estate license. Trina did not pass the exam. Family was Vic's first priority. He was a caretaker at heart and always looked out for his family. Vic enjoyed golfing with his wife, and was patient with her shortcomings on the links. He supported all of his sons in their academic and athletic endeavors, and once managed Jeremy's little league team to the 1990 league championship. He saved newspaper clippings of all his son's successes in athletics. Vic had a green thumb and enjoyed making plants thrive and doing yard work. He enjoyed travel of any kind. One of his favorite trips was a road trip we took cross country in his van. Mark and his wife Kathy had just moved to Georgia. Their dog, Buddy, a Queensland Blue Heeler, had taken off in our neighborhood the night before they were supposed to leave. After they had to leave, we searched and found him, so Buddy joined us in the van on the road trip which included sleeping in the van, tent camping, and the occasional motel. We saw the Grand Canyon, and every state heading east until we met up with Mark in Tennessee where he was reunited with Buddy. We toured Elvis's Graceland, then headed north where we visited Trina's parents in Ohio, then headed west through Iowa (where he loved visiting the town of Amana), Nebraska (the corn palace), the Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, then to R-Ranch, a ranch we own part of on the Oregon border, before heading back South to San Diego. We bought a timeshare in Puerto Vallarta and went there many times. Vic and Trina had wonderful travel adventures both in the US (to Niagra Falls, Florida, Tahoe, Yosemite, San Francisco, the Sequoias, Palm Springs, Mammoth, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington DC, and much more, plus annual trips to the Ranch, with assorted family and friends) and throughout the world, both by air and cruise ship. We snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef in Australia from Lady Elliot Island, stayed on the Gold Coast in Australia, visited Brisbane, and Steve Irwin's zoo in Australia. It happened that we were there at the time when Steve Irwin was stung by the sting ray and died, so we got to see the amazing outpouring of love for Steve Irwin at his beloved zoo. We stayed at Lake Taupo in New Zealand and drove all over Southern New Zealand. We took many cruises: to Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mexican Riviera. We also spent time in the Bahamas, Aruba, Belize, Puerto Rico, Mexican cities including Guadalajara, Ixtapo/Zihuatanejo, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Mexico City, and others. Vic was always trying to guide us to do the right thing, be sensible, frugal, and use our common sense. Even after 37-years of marriage, I couldn't put a potato in the oven without him asking, "Did you poke holes in the potatoes"? His love, wisdom, wit, intelligence, kindness, and level-headedness will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Sharp Guardian Angels at https://give.sharp.com/sharp-foundation/guardian-angel on behalf of Dr. Kenneth Doan for the excellent care he provided to Victor. Other donation options are: Sharp Foundation at 619-740-4385, https://give.sharp.com/ with a request that the donation go to Sharp Hospice. Vic, you are forever in all of our hearts.