Ronald Lee "Zip" Simmerman

Ronald Lee “Zip” Simmerman, a resident of Taylor, passed away on November 13, 2016 at the William F. Green Veterans Home in Bay Minette, AL after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s.  He was 82.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 am on November 16, 2016 at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Dothan with Rev. Pat Andrews and Ed Pritchard officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow in Gardens of Memory cemetery with Robert Byrd directing.  Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 am at Gardens of Memory.  In lieu of flowers memorials donations may be made to the Taylor Baptist Church, 4156 Taylor Rd., Taylor, AL, 36301.

Mr. Simmerman was born on April 23, 1934 in Portland, Oregon and lived the early years of his life there.  He graduated from high school in Eugene, Oregon and at the age of 18 joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War.  He was later employed with the Daleville Police Department and the Dothan Police Department for over 20 years until his retirement in 1983.  He was later employed with the Southeast Alabama Medical Center Security Department for 13 years until his retirement in 1996.  In his spare time Zip was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and loved to ride.  He was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Donna Simmerman and son-in law Derek Windham, and 2 sons James Peterman and Jeff Peterman.

Survivors include his wife Annie Peterman Simmerman of Taylor; step-daughters, Joyce Riley and her husband Chuck of Taylor, Karen Bullard and her husband Trant of Dothan, Kathy Lawrence and her husband Billy of Newville; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister Patti Eberson of Portland, OR also survives.