John Elbert Simmons of Port Republic Maryland went home to be with the Lord at the age of 90 on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the Solomons Nursing Center in Solomons, Maryland. John was a charter member of First Baptist Church of Calvert County for over 50 years.

He is a veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific theater with the US Marine Corps including duty at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. He was attached to Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-212 as an aviation mechanic operating in California, the Hawaiian Islands, the Solomons Islands chain including Papua New Guinea (Bougainville), and also in New Hebrides during the war. He attained the rank of Master Technical Sergeant during his 7 years of military service. He was later a member and past president of the Maryland chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Upon returning home from the war, John worked for the Department of Defense at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and Andrews Air Force Base before retiring from government service in 1970. He went on to become a real estate agent with Weems Realty of Prince Frederick, and later also worked for the Bechtel Corporation, the B.F. Diamond Construction Company, and the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative in Prince Frederick before retiring again in 1987.

After John returned home from military service, he married the former Clare Marguerite Wilson of Lusby and they settled in Port Republic, Maryland. There they raised their family on a portion of the family farm. John was a godly man and lived a life of faithfulness to God, his family and his friends. During the 1950's, John was involved in the building of Calvary Bible Church in Lusby, and later helped found the First Baptist Church of Calvert County where he served as treasurer and deacon. John and Marguerite had three children and five grandchildren who knew him affectionately as "Pop."

John was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marguerite in March 2008, and their eldest son, John Wilson "Johnny" Simmons in 1985. He is survived by his daughter Ruth Ann Grigg of Forest, Virginia, and son Daniel E. Simmons of Lusby, Maryland. John's five grandchildren are Aaron Padgett of Alexandria, Virginia, John and Emily Grigg of Forest, Virginia, and Rachel and Abigail Simmons of Lusby, Maryland. He is also survived by two sisters, Pauline Gibson of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Madeline Blickley of Santa Barbara, California. He was predeceased by sisters Louise Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, Ruth Clarke of Merritt Island, Florida, and one brother, Carl C. Simmons of San Diego, California.

Arrangements were made by Rausch Funeral Home in Port Republic with services being held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Calvert County. Pastor Ralph Nevin officiated. Interment was with military honors at Christ Church Episcopal in Port Republic. Pallbearers were Dale Grigg, Aaron Padgett, John Grigg, Jim Smith, Steve Smith, and Tom Stuhl.

Donations in memory of John may be made to the First Baptist Church of Calvert County (Building Fund), or the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.