John Boland Sims
December 15, 1923 ~ June 28, 2015
Sims, John Boland (Bo), Col., USMC, Ret.
On Sunday, June 28, 2015, John Boland Sims, of McLean, VA was reunited with his wife of 70 years. Col. Sims retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1976. He headed the Retirement Programs Department at Continental Federal Savings and Loan from late 1976 until he retired in 1989. He was the loving husband of the late Marie Morgan Sims; loving father of Kenneth Morgan (June) Sims and Kathleen Sims (Randy) Shelton; grandfather of John B. (Tracy) Sims II; Kathryn Sims Jackson; Christopher M. (Sarah) Sims; and Rebecca E. Shelton; great-grandfather of Zoe Jackson, Michaela Sims, Christina Sims, and John B. Sims III; the late brother-in-law of Jane M. (Bruce) Franklin. Funeral services will be held at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel, on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Please assemble at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel thirty minutes prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army or the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
On Sunday, June 28, 2015, John Boland Sims, of McLean, VA was reunited with his wife of 70 years. Col. Sims retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1976. He headed the Retirement Programs Department at Continental Federal Savings and Loan from late 1976 until he retired in 1989. He was the loving husband of the late Marie Morgan Sims; loving father of Kenneth Morgan (June) Sims and Kathleen Sims (Randy) Shelton; grandfather of John B. (Tracy) Sims II; Kathryn Sims Jackson; Christopher M. (Sarah) Sims; and Rebecca E. Shelton; great-grandfather of Zoe Jackson, Michaela Sims, Christina Sims, and John B. Sims III; the late brother-in-law of Jane M. (Bruce) Franklin. Funeral services will be held at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel, on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Please assemble at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel thirty minutes prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army or the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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I have so many great memories of Uncle Bo. I visited him and Aunt Marie many times during my childhood and throughout my adult life. Uncle Bo was always so much fun to be around! I loved his sense of humor, his cartoons, and his kindness to me. I miss him very much. He will always have a special place in my memory.
Uncle Bo was always the life of the party, adroit with clever repartee and hilarious cartoons for any occasion. The last time that I visited him and Aunt Marie, at their home in Virginia, he was especially kind and entertaining to my children, Greg and Maya, and they in turn were fascinated by him. I feel fortunate that he was my uncle, and glad to know that he lived such a full life, with a devoted wife and loving family.
Bo was a thinking man who stood by his principles. He was also playful, which I learned when he visited our family while he and my sister were engaged, and I was about 10 years old. He loved his wife, my sister Marie, and his children and grandchildren as well as his relatives, including my husband and our children and grandchildren, at least those who had the good fortune of meeting him. His cartoons are insightful vignettes of his subjects, appreciated by all. He will always be with us.
I am his daughter, and I REALLY did hero worship this man. He supposedly wasn’t perfect, but I have a hard time finding any fault in him…OTHER than being TOO PERFECT, TOO Black and White. It was either TRUE or FALSE. And that was TRUE in his life. Tough act to follow, but I have NEVER heard a truly negative comment attached to my dad…AND RIGHT THERE, is a problem when you are trying to follow behind such an amazing person. I know he is happy now, because being without Mom was his worse experience, and in his belief system, he is with her NOW. And for this I am happy.
How vivid are my early memories of then Marine Major Bo Sims! He commanded the Marine Barracks in Key West, Florida and he personally led those Marines in every ceremony and parade I witnessed there. He was impressive! He absolutely set the standard for all the Marines I have had the pleasure to work, and live, with since then including my own son John (Major, USMC) and nephew, and Julies son, Chad (also Major, USMC.) Colonel and Mrs. Sims were an important part of all the Ferriters lives in Key West and beyond. They were a magnificent couple, superb friends and their loss is a huge loss to us all.