Mark Simonds

Mark Gavin Simonds, age 71, died Friday, October 18, 2019, at Valley Manor nursing home in Coopersburg. Born November 16, 1947 in Lowville, NY, he was the son of the late Hugh and Sophie (Brown) Simonds, and the widower of the late Barbara Ann (Keirns) Simonds who passed in 2016. Barb was his "best friend," and the light of his life. Mark served his country in the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne during the Vietnam War and was a Purple Heart recipient. He had an Associate's Degree from Terra Technical College in Fremont, Ohio and worked as an engineer/designer. He was also an EMT and Fire Inspector in Norwalk and Milan, OH. He spent the last 14 years retired, got his pilot's license and loved flying a Cessna plane out of Pennridge Airport until macular degeneration and the loss of his eye sight grounded him. He also served in the positions of Commander and Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 242 in Quakertown, PA. Mark was a fighter until the very end. Mark is survived by: son Joseph Simonds (wife Stacy); daughter Bridget Rainey (husband Dallas); step-daughter Christine Galione (husband David); step-son Michael Fraley (wife Tricia); several grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; siblings Mara Carico, Margaret Nye and Daniel Simonds, along with several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Stephen Simonds and Anthony Doldo and stepmother, Phoebe Simonds. Services will be private at Washington Crossing National Cemetery and at the discretion of the family. Memorial contributions may be made in Mark's honor to the Wounded Warrior Project through their National Processing Center at P.O. Box 758540, Topeka, KS 66675-8540. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.NaugleFCS.com.