ROLAND TED SIMMONS JR.

ORWELL — Roland Ted Simmons Jr., age 80, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, at Helen Porter Nursing Home in Middlebury.

Ted was born in Hartford, Conn., on Nov. 5, 1943. He was the son of Roland and Helen (Helenski) Simmons Sr. He grew up in Bloomfield, Conn., where he received his early education and graduated from Bloomfield High School, class of 1961. He earned his degree, class of 1963, from Radford Hicks School of Agriculture. He moved with his family to Charlestown, N.H., and worked the family farm with his father. They moved to Orwell in 1972 and settled on Royce Hill Road, where he continued farming.

After selling his cows he continued working doing field crops until his retirement in 2019. He was a selectman for the town of Orwell for 18 years. He served on the Vermont League of Cities & Towns board and was a past member of the Orwell First Response Squad. He was an avid reader and enjoyed watching old movies. He loved to work on the farm.

Surviving are his sister, Susanne Emery of Orwell; a niece; Nicole May; one nephew, Bernard Mohan Jr.; and two grandnieces, Jessica Claudio and Brianna May. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Frances Mohan and her husband, Bernard Mohan Sr.

The memorial service in celebration of his life will take place, on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m., at the Orwell Congregational Church. The Rev. David Anderson, pastor, will officiate. A private graveside committal service and burial will precede the funeral, in the family lot at Mountain View Cemetery.

Following the ceremony, the family will receive friends in the church hall for a time of remembrance.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in his name to The First Congregational Church of Orwell or to the Orwell First Response Squad.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. ◊