L. Glenn Simms - 90
11/15/1919 - 3/24/2010

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home Plano- -
L. Glenn Simms, 90, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 24, 2010, after a long, satisfying and illustrious life.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 29, 2010, at the Federated Church in Sandwich, Ill., with Rev. Kenneth Ritchie officiating. Burial will follow at Little Rock Twp. Cemetery Mausoleum in Plano, Ill. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 28, 2010, at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Plano. Memorials may be directed to the charity of one's choice.

The second of seven children of Dr. R.E. and Mrs. Esther Simms, Glenn was born in Midland, Mich., on Nov. 15, 1919. He moved to Southern Indiana for his boyhood and young manhood years. After becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest award in the Boy Scouts, he spent summer months at the Council’s camp as director of aquatics until moving to Plano, Ill., in 1940. In 1941, Glenn continued his pre-dental studies at Wheaton College and was a classmate of future world evangelist Billy Graham.

During World War II, Glenn was admitted to the Indiana University School of Dentistry, but dropped out to enlist in the Army Air Corps. After training, he flew to England and became a part of the mighty 8th Air Force, where he flew 35 missions over Germany as a ball turret gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress. During those questionable months of combat, Glenn reasoned with God that if he was allowed to return home, he would follow any future God had for him. That opening came shortly after the war. Glenn’s Boy Scouts were now young men and were still together, but needing a meeting place of their own. Through the help of the City Fathers, the Senior Scouts renovated the second story of Plano's City Hall and opened it up to high schoolers as a youth center, which they called the “Hangout” – Youth Sponsoring Youth. This program thrived during the latter 1940s and ’50s.

Still active, Glenn was urged to go into the Boy Scout professional program as a District Executive covering Kendall, DeKalb and Kane counties. He held this position for five years, furthering the program. In time, he was accorded the highest award in Boy Scouting – the Silver Beaver award, for untiring service to the youth of America. The Senior

Scout program Glenn initiated in Plano is now the official program for older young men and and women of the Boy Scouts of America -- the Explorer program.

In 1949, Glenn married his boyhood sweetheart, Nancy Porter, and for more than 60 years they shared many great times and a few tears. During those years, two daughters were born – Ann Lowrie and Elizabeth Alden, the delights of their lives, and they went on to give Glenn and Nancy five grandchildren.

In 1953, Glenn became an employee in sales training for Plano Molding Company. After a three-year stint covering in-house responsibilities, he was put in charge of sales of Plano's fledgling plastic fishing tackle box division, which was slowly dying. Working closely with great friend and mentor James Henning, president of Plano Molding, Glenn brought the plastic tackle box of Plano Molding Company from an unknown entity to the world’s largest fishing tackle container company. After more than 30 years with the company, Glenn retired as VP of Sales. He continued to hold a seat on their executive board. In 2006, Glenn was inducted into the International Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame due to the work he had done in furtherance of the sport of fishing for the family.

For a number of years during his working career, Glenn and Nancy vacationed with two other couples, Congressman and Mrs. Berkley Bedell, and the Leon Chandlers, all within the fishing tackle industry, spending delightful times fishing, snorkeling and swimming throughout the blue waters of the Bahamas and West Indies. Upon retirement, Glenn and Nancy became world travelers. They attained their life’s ambition of visiting three world-renowned sites -- the Holy Land, the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Through the lens of Glenn’s camera, he presented state-of-the-art slide presentations to churches, civic groups and nursing homes. This was another of his Christian missions. In time, Glenn and Nancy bought a small home in a Florida retirement community and continued to enjoy the warmth of sun and newfound friends throughout the cold winter months. In 2004, Hurricane Charlie ended all this when their place was destroyed. From then until Glenn’s “home-going,” the cold winter days and evenings were spent around their spacious fireplace in their cozy Plano home of nearly 60 years.

Throughout his life, Glenn remained active on many fronts. For some 35 years, he led a group of boys and young men as their Sunday School teacher. Also during those years, he was a leader of youth of the church as well as the community. Throughout his entire life, he remained very active in the work of the Kingdom, regardless the Fellowship he was connected with: as a Baptist, a deacon; as a Presbyterian, a deacon, then an elder. He also served on numerous committees and boards.

L. Glenn Simms leaves behind his wife Nancy; sisters Betsy Simms, Jane Loker and Patricia Vine; daughters Lowrie (Lance) Kuhn and Elizabeth (Robert) Hodge; grandchildren Matthew (Kerry) Erickson, Katie (Steve) Kerckhove, Andrew (Rebecca) Hodge, Benjamin Hodge and Sarah Hodge; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members – a close, loving family. But he has gained eternal life.

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter …”

For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home 3952 Turner Ave. Plano, IL 60545 (630) 552-3022

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