J. Willard Simcox, 99, of LaPorte, went to be with the Lord at 7:45 a.m. May 16, 2015, one week short of his 100th birthday.
He was born May 23, 1915, in LaPorte to Rose Catherine (Cox) Simcox and Jesse Francis Simcox.
A lifelong native of LaPorte County, Willard was involved in a great many professional, civic and political activities.
Over the course of his working life, Willard’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to participate in many and varied endeavors. He was a licensed real estate broker, a real estate developer and a retail dealer of farm and industrial machinery and equipment, including the Allis-Chalmers, Ford and New Holland lines under the name Simcox & Son. He was also part owner of a Hudson automobile dealership in Michigan City, IN. In addition, he sold securities and served as district sales manager of Willys Overland, Toledo OH, as a grower and marketer of Christmas trees, as the administrative assistant for the State Highway Commission, LaPorte District, as a school bus safety trainer and inspector for the Indiana Department of Education, and as the operator of the LaPorte County Motor Vehicle License Branches.
Willard was a leader in local and state political circles, having served as a volunteer for the LaPorte County Republican Party, eight years as LaPorte County Republican Chairman, and six years as the Third Congressional District Republican Chairman.
His civic activities included service as an officer and board member of the Pine Lake Cemetery Board, LaPorte, the Rolling Prairie School Board, the Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, and the LaPorte County Board of Health. Other fraternal affiliations included the LaPorte Elks Club, over 65 years as a member of the Excelsior Masonic Lodge of LaPorte, the Scottish Rite and Orak Shrine, and a 69-year member and past president of the LaPorte Rotary Club, which designated him as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was honored by Indiana Governors Whitcomb, Bowen, Orr and Pence with the designation of Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor bestowed by a governor on a citizen of the state. Additionally, Governor Mitch Daniels conferred the Distinguished Hoosier Award on him.
He was a 1934 graduate of Rolling Prairie High School and a member of the Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church for over 75 years.
Willard was an avid sportsman and Chicago Cubs fan. He also loved to golf and spend time with family.
On May 23, 1938, he married Rachel Louisa Gibbs at First United Methodist Church, River Park in South Bend, IN, then in February of 1991 he married Genevieve Kimmel at Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church. Both predeceased him.
He was also preceded in death by brothers Norman and Arnold Simcox and grandson Matthew Feltman.
He is survived by daughter Sheila (Bernie) Jastrzembski of Granger, IN; son, Edwin J. (Sandra) Simcox of Fishers, IN; stepdaughter, Margo (Joe) Brown of LaPorte; grandchildren, Lori Risser of South Bend, Nathan Feltman of Carmel, IN, Ed Simcox Jr. and Ethan Simcox of Indianapolis, and Stephen Simcox of Dallas, TX; two step-grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Friends may call Tuesday, May 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LaPorte, and Wednesday, May 20, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte.
The Simcox family would like to offer their sincere gratitude to the staff of Brentwood Assisted Living for the outstand care they provided.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church, 3444 E. U.S. 20, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371, or Rolling Prairie Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, C/O Carmadeane Rose, 3411 E. 800 N., Rolling Prairie, IN 46371.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.