COURTLAND—Francis Augustus “Gus” Simmons, 88, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

He was born March 28, 1923, in Southampton County, a son of the late Robert Augustus and Missie Francis Spain Simmons.

He was married to the late Edith Willis Cobb Simmons for 61 years.

Gus, as he was known to his family and friends, was an active member of Courtland United Methodist Church, had earned his 50-year pin as a member of the Courtland Ruritan Club and was a charter member of Manry Hunt Club.

He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre.

After the war he and his brother, Kilby, used their GI Bills to purchase a farm east of Courtland where they farmed until retirement. In 1960 he also began working for the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 1988 as a rural mail carrier.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Warren Augustus and wife, Linda, David Cobb, and Donald Lynn and wife, Patty, all of Courtland, and Mark Overton and his wife, Wendi, of Emporia; daughter, Edith Michele, and her husband, Camp Marks, of Charlotte, N.C; a sister, Bernice S. Gillette of Franklin; four grandchildren, Stephen Augustus Simmons and wife, Annette, Daniel Camp Marks Jr. and wife, Kate, Andrew Cobb Marks and Cameron Michele Marks; a great-grandson, Courtland Augustus Simmons; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Simmons was predeceased by two sisters, Hattie S. Bond and Helen S. Davis; and two brothers, Robert B. Simmons and J. Kilby Simmons.

The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 4, at Courtland United Methodist Church with the Rev. Brandon Robbins and Rev. Randy Wright officiating. The interment with military honors will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday, February 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Courtland United Methodist Church, 22416 Main St., Courtland, Va., 23837, or Courtland Ruritan Club, P.O. Box 399, Courtland, Va., 23837. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.