Simmons' celebrate golden anniversary

Staff Reports

Ruhenstroth residents Beverly Ann Lindahl Simmons and Robert Eugene Simmons celebrated their 50th anniversary with family and friends Aug. 15, 2008, at the Carson Valley Inn.

The Simmons' repeated their vows and had their rings blessed by Father Paul McCollum of St. Gall Catholic Church on April 26, 2008.

The couple were married April 26, 1958, in Black Oak, Ind. They lived in San Diego for 25 years where Bob worked as an aircraft mechanic and later as a planner for General Dynamics. Beverly worked as a family home care coordinator and trainer for the San Diego Naval Station.

The Simmons' went on a three-year mission to Papua, New Guinea, where two of their four children were born.

The Simmons' children are Deborah Perez (Cornelio) of Singapore, Robert Simmons (Cheri) of Burbank, Calif., Denise Roberts (Scott) of Englewood, Colo., and Lisa Lambert of Carson City. They have seven grandchildren.

Bob and Beverly retired to Carson Valley in 1999 and enjoy camping, visiting family, seeing shows in Reno and riding to Hot August Nights in their blue 1950 Oldsmobile.

"Having similar family values and worshiping together is very important," said Beverly about the success of their 50-year marriage. "And we enjoy doing the same things. I'll go to a 'guy' movie and he'll go to a 'chick flick.'"

Bob said the first secret to a long-lasting marriage is to pick the right person.

"Be ready to accept changes that come over the years," he said. "People change and you have to adjust.

"I picked a good girl, raised in a good Catholic family. She was the only girl I took home to my Protestant parents."