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Apache, Oklahoma July 2017 March 5, 1931 ~ July 29, 2017 APACHE: Funeral for Kenneth Simmons-Tooahnipah, 86, Apache, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at the Comanche Community Center in Apache. He passed to his heavenly home Saturday, July 29, 2017, with his loving family by his side. Burial with military honors will be at the Cache Creek KCA Cemetery west of Apache under direction of Comanche Nation Funeral Home. Kenneth was born March 5, 1931, in Lawton to Roy and Lottie [Carpio] Simmons. 'Kenneth was drafted into the Army November 4, 1951, and served with honor until September 18, 1954, earning the rank of Corporal. He completed his Basic and Occupation, as a Pole Lineman, at Camp San Luis Obispo Army Base, Calif. Kenneth served in Korea with Company C, 26th Signal Construction Battalion, 8th Army from March 1953 until September 1954 [17 months and 12 days] during the war and uneasy truce. He endured one of the coldest winters on record in 1953 with temperatures reaching as low as minus 25 degrees. Kenneth helped install telephone lines from Seoul and along the Demilitarized Zone by climbing telephone poles [with foot spikes] and installing the telephone lines often under small arms, sniper and artillery fire. His awards include the Meritorious Unit Citation for Valorous achievement in combat; the Good Conduct; National Defense Service; Korean Service with/2 Bronze Campaign Stars for the Third Korean Winter and Korea, Summer 1953 campaigns; Korean War Service from the South Korean government; United Nations Service with/Korea Clasp; and the Korean Defense Service medals. He married the love of his life Margie Ann Parker March 25, 1960, in Sterling. They established their home in Boone. To this union was born Devere, Troy and Kenberly. Kenneth was a proud full-blood member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma and the C.I.V.A. He was a fluent speaker of his Comanche Language. He worked for Sooner State Telephone and Medicine Park Telephone Company. He was a pro bullrider, he had a passion for rodeos and rode with Freckles Brown, Jim Shoulders and Donnie Gay. Kenneth always said he was the first victim of the bucking bull "Tornado" and was invited to ride at Madison Square Garden National Finals in New York. His hobbies include racing horses and pigs. He also enjoyed playing horseshoes and won numerous trophies with his brother, Rusty. Kenneth is survived by: his wife, of the home; children: Devere and Barbara Simmons, Killeen, Texas, Troy Simmons and Kenberly Simmons, of Apache; brothers: Rusty Simmons, Shawnee, and Pete Simmons, Apache; a sister, Yvonne Chockpoyah, Apache; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a granddaughter, Lauren Simmons. |