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James Walter Walt Simmons, Jr., 81, of San Antonio, Texas, died on Monday, August 1, 2016 at Life Care Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, following a brief illness. He was born December 23, 1934 in Byrum, Mississippi, the son of James Walter and Lena May Simmons, Sr. From a young age he had a passion for medicine and wanted to become a physician. He graduated from Millsaps College in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree and obtained his doctorate of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical School in 1962. He then spent one year at Brooke General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, TX and another year at Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, GA, completing his pre-specialty surgical training. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Brooke General Hospital in 1967. He decided to specialize in spine surgery early in his medical career and became a pioneering force in the treatment, education and research of diseases of the spine. He is the author of over 100 textbook chapters and journal papers on spine disorders and has been an invited guest lecturer and instructor at spine disorder seminars throughout the world. He is a founding member of The Challenge of the Lumbar Spine, North American Spine Society, American Board of Spine Surgery, American College of Spine Surgery, Bone Bank Foundation, Texas Health Care Council, and Texas Spine Society. He has also been actively involved in many other medical and civic organizations. He had a distinguished career in the U.S. military, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1954 and retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps as a Colonel in 2000. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Billye Katherine Simmons, and his sister Mary Staring. He is survived by his children; son James W. Simmons, III, wife Jane Marie; daughter Katheryn Lynn Baker, husband Karl; grandchildren Catherine Johnson, husband Brad; Brandi Baker; Rachel Simmons; Krista McCulley, husband Travis; Virginia Simmons; Heather Simmons; Sarah Simmons; and Andrew Simmons; and his nephew Jimmy Staring, wife Leslie and daughter Jo-Lie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, 9400 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 215, Rosemont, IL 60018-4976, www.oref.org/donate. The family will receive friends from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Monday, August 8, 2016 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, 3401 Cherry Ridge San Antonio, TX 78239. The funeral service will be held at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 9:00 am with graveside interment to follow at Mission Burial Park North, 20900 IH 10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257, Pastor Kurt Hudspeth officiating. Arrangements by Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries. Obituary and memorial guest-book available online at www.MissionParks.com.

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James Walter Simmons, Jr

December 23, 1934 - August 1, 2016