Samuel Richard Sims Jr.
Samuel Richard Sims, Jr. died on Saturday, November 6, 2021. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas to Floy Gene and Samuel Richard Sims, Sr. Samuel was an only child. He played in all sports at Pulaski Heights Junior High and in Little Rock High School. He was in the Delta Sigma Fraternity at UALR in College Basketball, and was the starting center for the Trojans at UALR.
Samuel served six and one half years total in the Military, two and one half years in the Marine Reserve and four years in the United States Air Force. On Oct. 2, 1950, Richard joined the United States Air Force in Little Rock and went through a month of basic training in San Antonio, Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. After Basic Training, the men got two weeks to go home before receiving their permanent assignments. Dad traveled home by bus. Everyone was at the Bus Stop ready to greet him including Dad’s parents and future wife, Mary Frances Martin and her parents. Mom and dad had already made plans to get married at some time, but with the war’s interruption had not set a date. Upon arriving home, dad’s father loaned him his car. As Dad was walking mom to the car, he said “Why don’t we get Married?” (meaning in the next two weeks) Mom said “Sure!” Dad had already gotten permission from the USAF to get married and mom knew that. My parents were both twenty years old and in 1950, at twenty years old, you had to get permission from your parents to get married. All parents gave their permission because dad’s dad was Head Alderman for Little Rock at the time, he was able to get the Marriage License immediately. They married December 15, 1950 in Little Rock, Arkansas not having much time and very little money, the Honeymoon was spent in Little Rock because Mom had not worked at her job for very long. She had to work during the Honeymoon! Less than a week later, Dad had to report back to San Antonio. There were at least 10, 000 men or more stationed at Lackland Airforce Base. The had been informally assembled outside, waiting to be told where they would be permanently stationed. An officer walked out, up to the front of the group and announced. “This is the middle line” (indicating with his arm about where the middle would be between all those men” He said. “Everyone to my right will be going to the Far East. Everyone to my left will be going to Europe.” As fate would have it, that was how Dad ended up stationed at Sealand AFB close to Chester, England instead of Korea. Mom was able to join him in England 8 months later. Their first child, Linda Carol Sims was born in England in August 1952. Richard was a Sargent with the USAF Air Police. Mom and Dad loved their time in England. Dad was stationed in England 39 months, but by the time Richard’s enlistment was up, they were very ready to go home.
They arrived back in Little Rock September 1954. Richard returned to college on the GI Bill, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Upon graduating they moved to Fort Smith where Dad worked for Sears. Their second child, Martin Richard Sims was born there on January 5, 1957. The couple then moved to Benton where Richard was foreman at Reynolds Metal Co. for Ten years. Later Richard was manufacturing representative, traveling five states, calling on heavy industry.
Growing up, my dad got three weeks vacation a year. As a family we would spend two weeks every year at our cabin on Greer’s Ferry Lake. Dad, his father and Uncle Harry, built the cabin when Greer’s Ferry Lake was initially created in 1959. Martin and I were each allowed to take a friend. Papa Sims and Momma Gene, Dad’s parents would come. Uncle Harry, Aunt Belle and my favorite cousin, Jan would be there and our dog, Buddy Ruff. It was a grand time with lots of swimming, boating, skiing, eating, horseshoes and at night, darts, cards and games. Dad would spend every afternoon driving the boat two or three hours, so Martin and I, Jan and our friends could ski until he wore us out.
During the school year, when Martin and I were in elementary school, dad was the “Designated Tutor”. My Achilles heel was math. From the second thru the fourth grades, every school night dad and I would do Flash Cards. Addition and Subtraction at first and then the multiplication and division flash cards. Martin’s nemesis was Civics. I was delighted when it became his turn every school night for Dad’s undivided attention instead of me. For entertainment, Mom and Dad loved playing Bridge. Almost every Friday night for thirty years, Mom and Dad would play bridge with Joanne and Ken Hearn. Girls against the boys. They would alternate at whose house they played. The snack was always the same, Cheese Dip, Soft drinks and Coffee. Many Saturday nights they would play Bridge with Harry and Shirley Drown. So there were many hours of fun, kibitzing and laughter on a very low budget. Every other Sunday, we would go spend the afternoon and evening visiting both sets of grandparents in Little Rock.
Golfing became a lifelong passion starting when Dad was about 25 years old. He played with his Dad often. Later a group of eight men played Golf every Saturday morning. These eight men played together over 20 years or more, becoming close friends- J.P. Moore, John Due, Earl Reynolds, Dewayne Hairston, Archie Archibald, Gerald Francis, Dr. Joe Hathcote and my Dad. After retiring, Dad played during the week always walking instead of riding in a golf cart for the exercise. In his golfing career he hit four holes in one. The men played at Longhills Golf Course, Hot Springs Village and later at Hurricane Creek Country Club. Each of the golfers knew each other’s stories (life experiences) if one started a story, another could always finish it! As couples, the golfers and their wives would go on trips together once or twice a year. Down to the Gulf, New Orleans or San Antonio. One special trip was to Las Vegas. The guys would play golf and the girls would go shopping etc. Martin, his son, also took up golf and the two of them played many times. After Dad’s by-pass surgery in 2005, his vertigo worsened significantly and he had to quit golfing. He sorely missed golfing, the camaraderie, and enjoying the outdoors.
After mom retired from Teacher Retirement, they made several trips. They visited every State on the Eastern Coast. Their longest trip was by car, traveling through several National Parks up through Western Canada. During the six weeks they traveled, they put so many miles on the care that dad bought a new Mercury upon returning home.
Dad loved sports. When Martin and I were growing up, many late afternoons in the spring and summer were spent playing Badminton and Croquet. When Martin reached Junior High, neighborhood basketball in our back yard became the sport. Every man for himself with Dad coaching. Amazingly, all the boys didn’t mind if I played too.
Monday night during football season were always reserved for NFL Monday Night Football with Dad calling us into the living room giving us a play by play commentary on exciting replays. Sunday afternoons when we were home were reserved for watching College Football and Golf. For at least ten years, dad also took up jogging to keep this weight down and to stay in shape.
Mom and dad attended First Methodist Church in Benton for many years. Dad was a member of the Men’s Bible Class. When he first started the class at age 65, he was the youngest member. He loved this class of men. There were several men in the class who were good singers. They would start with a couple of songs before having the lesson. It was a large group of men and several other Sunday School classes said they could also hear them sing. They sounded so good, the Men’s Bible Class was asked to perform for the entire church four or five times a year. They always sang the old hymns.
There were also two or three retired pastors in the group, so the lessons were interesting and informative. Dad also enjoyed being President of the class for a couple of years. One of the benefits of the class, Dad said, if you need a plumber or electrician etc, you could always get a good referral!
Dad also enjoyed reading, especially Agatha Christie Mysteries and the daily newspaper, always getting a big laugh out of the comics. He and mom enjoyed the old movies and could watch them time and again. He enjoyed people telling him good stories and loved talking himself. His life was filled with family and friends as a life should be.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Frances Sims on October 1, 2011. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Kimball and husband, Kirk, son,
Martin Sims and wife, Jeannie, granddaughter, Cara Sims Dyer and husband, David, grandson, Conley Sims and wife, Morgan, five great grandchildren, Layton Dickerson, Kaley Dyer, Caroline Dyer; Myra Sims and Kase Sims.
A visitation will be held at Ashby Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.
On-line guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com