Obituary of Theodore J. “Ted” Simmons

Theodore J. “Ted” Simmons, age 86 passed away from complications due to dementia on January 19, 2018 at Palm Cottages Memory Care Facility. A longtime Florida resident, Ted was born in 1931 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Mary Smieska. He served honorably in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, then began his aerospace engineering career with Martin Company in 1958. Ted was employed by several NASA contractors, including Rockwell and Boeing, and enjoyed working on all the major space flight programs, including the Space Shuttle. In addition to working in the aerospace industry, Ted pursued a second career as a piano technician. For nearly 40 years, Ted Simmons Piano Service specialized in tuning, repairing and restoring pianos for local residents, churches, and cruise ship companies. Ted will be fondly remembered by his wife, Katherine, two daughters – Donna Shaffer (Simmons) and Mary Nelson (Simmons), three stepchildren – George Hargrove, Douglas Hargrove, Leslie Schneider (Hargrove), 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, Rockledge, 724-2222.